Washington Post: The Islamic State just took a page from the ‘Battle of Stalingrad’
More than a month after it began, the battle for the Syrian city of Manbij drags on.
Now surrounded on all sides by a coalition of Kurds and Arabs, known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, and supported by U.S. Special Operations forces as well as dozens of airstrikes, the motley assortment of troops is slowly rooting out Islamic State fighters one block at a time.
Yet, despite gains around the city, one cluster of buildings at the southern tip of Manbij has turned into a small redoubt and a symbol of the Islamic State’s determination to hold its territory. The structures, a series of grain silos, elevators and administrative buildings, have been hit by numerous airstrikes since 2014. And despite various reports of their seizure by the U.S-backed forces, they still appear either to be partially held by ISIS fighters or so laden with mines and booby traps that advancing troops are unable to enter.
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Update #1: US-Trained Fighters Participate in Operation to Liberate Manbij From Daesh (Sputnik)
Update #2: IS Syria stronghold Raqqa next after Manbij operation is completed: U.S. official (Reuters)
WNU Editor: The Islamic State is pushing back .... Islamic State forces Syria rebels to retreat from border area (Reuters). More here .... ISIL retakes Syria border town from US-backed rebels (Al Jazeera).
Manjib looks little.
ReplyDeleteFrom the interstate an 8 silo grain silo and a water tower looks like the epitome of civilization to me. The top 20 cities look the jungle.
Manjib looks like it has 2 or 3 high rises. To see that skyline fall to the earth is to strike to the quick.