Latest Developments in Manbij: Interview with Military Council Spokesperson

For over two months, the city of Manbij in Aleppo province, Syria, has been the scene of intense battles. The Manbij Military Council, Syrian Democratic Forces, and the International Coalition against ISIS have targeted ISIS positions in the city from both land and air. The goal is clear: to drive ISIS out of Manbij after two years. Reports from Manbij indicate that the operation to liberate the city has reached its final stage, and ISIS forces are likely to soon lose control of this strategic city. What are the latest updates on the liberation operation in Manbij? What was the significance of Manbij for ISIS, and why is its liberation considered a vital event for both anti-ISIS forces in Syria and the international coalition? These are questions I discussed with Shervan Darwish, spokesperson for the Manbij Military Council, the force leading the liberation operation. I first asked him how accurate the news of "complete liberation of Manbij" is and what the latest news from the battles in Manbij is. Shervan Darwish stated: "The news of the complete liberation of Manbij is not accurate. Our advances are still ongoing. Currently, our forces control 90% of Manbij. Only 10% of the city is under ISIS control. ISIS forces are currently only present in the city center, known as the old city. Our forces are only 200 meters away from reaching the center of Manbij, and in the northern part of the city, there is a point where part of it is under our control and another part is under ISIS control." I asked Shervan Darwish about the composition of the forces involved in the liberation of Manbij. He replied, "The force that initiated and is currently advancing the operation is the Manbij Military Council. This force is made up of the residents of Manbij, the majority of whom are Arabs. At the same time, the Syrian Democratic Forces are supporting us, a force composed of Kurds and Arabs." I inquired about the role of the international coalition forces against ISIS in this operation. He mentioned that the Manbij Military Council has been able to communicate and cooperate with the international coalition through the Syrian Democratic Forces. He explained how the coalition forces are specifically participating in the liberation operation: "The coalition forces are helping us significantly in air operations against ISIS and in ground advising at a very good level, and they have a relationship with us. I can say that during this time, mutual understanding and good experience of cooperation between our forces and the coalition have developed, and this cooperation continues at a very good level." However, when it comes to Manbij, a key question arises: why is Manbij so strategically important for both ISIS and its opponents? Shervan Darwish answered this question, stating that if ISIS loses Manbij, its connection to the outside world will be cut off: "Manbij is precisely where ISIS forces send terrorists to the world. Conversely, anyone who wants to join ISIS first comes to Turkey and then from there to Manbij. Additionally, Manbij is the largest city under ISIS control after Raqqa. In fact, the center for exporting terrorists to the world was not Raqqa, but Manbij. Therefore, we can say that strategically, Manbij is even more important for ISIS than Raqqa, and the liberation of Manbij is a prerequisite for the liberation of Raqqa. In one sentence, Manbij marks the beginning of the end for ISIS in Syria." In another part of this conversation, I asked the spokesperson about the situation of civilians in Manbij. How has this war affected them, and what will their fate be? Shervan Darwish responded, "Since the beginning of the liberation operation in Manbij, we have rescued over sixty thousand civilians and evacuated them from the city. Some civilians, however, remain in the city, and ISIS is using them as human shields. Just today, we received information indicating that ISIS has gathered civilians around them to challenge our ongoing operations. Daily, we strive to rescue hundreds of civilians and families and evacuate them from the city." According to Shervan Darwish, apart from the people of Kobani, no forces have provided assistance to the civilians in Manbij. He addressed the United Nations and Western countries, saying, "We are liberating Manbij from ISIS. Manbij was where ISIS planned its attacks against Paris, Belgium, and other places. Therefore, it is a moral duty to provide assistance to the civilians of Manbij now." After two months of heavy fighting, the news of the "complete liberation" of Manbij is likely to be announced soon. The Manbij Military Council states that in the past 67 days, about 2000 ISIS members have been killed in Manbij, and their bodies remain in the area. However, the official death toll of the opposing forces, namely those engaged in the battle against ISIS, has not yet been announced.