Islamic State fighters surrounded during the key battle for
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.