US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in Manbij have been greeted as liberators from the strict rule of the "Islamic State." Pictures from the strategic town show a population happy to be free from the terror group's reign.
Image: Reuters/R. Said
Celebrating freedom
Women celebrate after the SDF cleared the last remaining IS fighters from Manbij. Backed by US airstrikes, the SDF launched the assault on Manbij and the surrounding countryside in May. After weeks of urban fighting SDF said the city had been "cleansed of the gangs" on Friday.
Image: Reuters/R. Said
Smoking
A women smokes a cigarette in a sign of defiance. Smoking was prohibited under the strict rules of "Islamic State" (IS).
Image: Reuters/R. Said
Off with the beards
A man cuts the beard of another man. IS implemented strict rules, including a requirement that men grow out their beards.
Image: Reuters/R. Said
Embrace
A female SDF fighter hugs a women after the city was liberated. Many of the Syrian Kurdish fighters are women. The SDF accused IS of using civilians as human shields.
Image: Reuters/R. Said
Evacuation
A girl smiles after being evacuated from the last IS controlled neighborhood.
Image: Reuters/R. Said
Patrols
SDF cleared the last vestiges of IS from the city over the past few days.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/D. Souleiman
Saving civilians
A female SDF fighter carries a baby after evacuating civilians from the last neighborhood controlled by IS.
Image: Reuters/R. Said
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Chase WinterAugust 13, 2016
https://p.dw.com/p/1JhYN
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Kurdish and Arab militia under the umbrella of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces on Friday retook the strategic northern Syrian town of Manbij from the so-called "Islamic State." The local population greeted the fighters as liberators from IS' strict rules.
