SDF killed 1,000 IS insurgents around Manbij

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) stated on Wednesday that they killed about 1,000 Islamic State (IS) insurgents around the northern Syrian town of Manbij since the beginning of the operation two weeks ago.

MANBIJ, Syria (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) stated on Wednesday that they killed about 1,000 Islamic State (IS) insurgents around the northern Syrian town of Manbij since the beginning of the operation two weeks ago.

Manbij Military Council (MMC), an SDF ally whose fighters participate in the operation on Manbij, held a press conference attended by Kurdistan24 in addition to several Arabic, Kurdish, and international media agencies in the village of Gabirkabeer around Manbij, and revealed the gains and losses of both sides.

Abu Amjad, the spokesperson of MMC, commenced the conference saying that MMC and SDF liberated about 400 square miles of the lands around Manbij.   

“In the 15th day of our operation on Manbij, about 1,000 terrorists were killed, including 560 bodies seized by our forces, in addition to huge amounts of arms and ammunitions.”

Abu Amjad also thanked the SDF and the International Coalition led by the US, UK, and France for their air support.

“Our forces made tremendous achievements under air cover provided by the International Coalition aircrafts,” he said.

Speaking with Kurdistan24, Abu Amjad denied the claim that German troops were involved in Manbij operation.

“The Kurdish-led SDF and the Manbij Military Council forces are fighting IS with the support of the US-led coalition airstrikes,” he said.   

On Thursday, a Kurdistan24 correspondent embedded with the SDF on the eastern and southern fronts of Manbij, Ekrem Salih, reported that about nine IS insurgents confirmed dead and dozens were injured on the southern side of the town.

 

Editing by Ava Homa

[Abu Amjad, the spokesperson of Manbij Military Council (MMC), an SDF ally whose fighters participate in the operation on Manbij, speaks at a press conference in the village of Gabirkabeer around Manbij, June 15, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24)]

[Kurdistan24 cameramen with a fighter of Manbij Military Council are covering the fighting taking place near Manbij silos, Aleppo province, Syria, June 16, 2016. (Photo: Rodi Said)]