1st LD: 35 killed in U.S.-led airstrikes in northern Syria

At least 35 civilians were killed by fresh U.S.-led airstrikes near a town controlled by the Islamic State (IS) group in northern Syria, a pan-Arab TV reported Friday.

The airstrikes targeted the town of Ghandur in the countryside of the town of Manbej, which has seen several strikes by the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition.

The strikes come in the context of the U.S. support to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which has besieged Manbej in a bid to flush the IS out.

Al-Mayadeen TV said the airstrike is the third to hit civilians in Manbej since the SDF and the U.S. started operations against the IS there in May.

On July 19, as many as 56 civilians were killed in Manbej by French strikes, part of the U.S.-led coalition, according to local media.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported the airstrike, saying seven children were among those killed.

Manbej has a strategic importance to the U.S.-backed rebels due to its location near Turkey.

Capturing Manbej would deprive IS from a key stronghold near Turkey.

The U.S. military said that more civilians may have been killed in another strike around Manbej.

"We can confirm the coalition conducted airstrikes in the areas in the last 24 hours," said the U.S. central command late on Thursday, adding that the strikes "may have resulted in civilian casualties." Endit