U.S.-backed Syria fighters cut off routes to IS-held city near Turkey

The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have cut off almost all the routes into the city of Manbej in northern Syria on the borders with Turkey, a monitor group reported on Thursday.

The SDF, a recently-formed group with the participation of Arab and Kurdish fighters and led by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), have reached only 800 meters from the last remaining road between Manbej and the IS-held city of Bab in northern Aleppo, after cutting off all the other routes between the city and other IS-held areas in Aleppo, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The recent development is part of the SDF's aim to capture Manbej from the hands of the Islamic State (IS) group, due to its strategic importance near Turkey.

The SDF unleashed the offensive backed by the U.S. air cover on May 31, with the final goal to minimize the IS sway in northern Syria, particularly in the Aleppo province.

The battles for Manbej have so far killed 190 militants and civilians, said the Observatory.

The UK-based watchdog group said the death toll includes 132 IS militants, 21 SDF fighters and 37 civilians.

The SDF's operation against the IS was not only confined to Manbej. The group also captured several towns and farmlands in the northern countryside of al-Raqqa province, the de facto capital of the IS in northern Syria.

The SDF and the Syrian army seem to have coordinated in some offensives against the IS in a bid to weaken the terror group and stem its momentum.

The Syrian army has advanced into the southern rim of al-Raqqa, after crossing its administrative borders last week.

All those attacks seemed coordinated between Washington, which backs the SDF, and Moscow, which supports President Bashar al-Assad, analysts said. Endit