U.S.-Backed Syrian Forces Gave Defeated ISIL Militants safe Passage

• 08.17.2016, 15:50
•  Near East,  World

Delil Souleiman, AFP/Getty Images

Islamic State fighters surrounded during the key battle for Manbij, Syria, last week agreed to surrender their weapons to U.S.-backed Syrian forces in return for safe passage out of the embattled city. The militants turned their weapons over to Syrian Democratic Forces before leaving Manbij, US Today reports.

 The exhausted and demoralized militants were using civilians as human shields, which is why the U.S.-backed fighters agreed to let them flee Manbij after three months of intense fighting and near constant aerial bombardment by the U.S.-led coalition. The enemy convoy of 100 to 200 fighters left the city last Friday under the watch of coalition drones to ensure that the militants did not regroup and try to return to the city.

It was the first such agreement with the terror group.