Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

U.S.-backed Syrian force gives Islamic State 48 hours to leave Manbij
Reuters ^ | Jul 21, 2016 | Dominic Evans

Posted on 07/21/2016 2:38:56 PM PDT by BeauBo

...the Manbij Military Council said the Islamic State militants would be allowed to leave the city with light weapons, without a fight.

It said their departure must take place within 48 hours and "this initiative is the only and the final one for the besieged Daesh elements to leave the city,"

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Syria
KEYWORDS: isis; manbij; syria
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-24 next last
After a month of slow urban warfare, things seem to be picking up in Manbij (the ISIS center for foreign jihadis in Syria). The US-backed SDF is finally entering the small city center.

They have been extra careful in Manbij not to destroy the place during battle, as happened in other Kurdish cities (like Kobane), relying on snipers and infantry rather than airstrikes or artillery. Manbij is mostly Arab, and they want good relations after the war.

But time has dragged on, and other players have schedules to keep (e.g. the Democrats want the ISIS capital of Raqqa to brag about before the election). The change in Turkey is also a huge source of urgency. So now the SDF is offering free passage for ISIS after a month of preventing their attempted breakouts - to bring a swifter conclusion, and to relieve the civilian human shields that are being killed during operations.

A lot of ISIS fighters have been killed there (estimates of around fifty most days), and a trove of intelligence captured.

ISIS may not take up the offer, but I think it shows that there is pressure to speed up the operation.

1 posted on 07/21/2016 2:38:56 PM PDT by BeauBo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: BeauBo
Any bets that the conversation didn't include something like this?

"We need you to check out so these gullible Khafirs will give us a weapons upgrade. We'll divide up with you later."

2 posted on 07/21/2016 2:44:21 PM PDT by Vigilanteman (ObaMao: Fake America, Fake Messiah, Fake Black man. How many fakes can you fit into one Zer0?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Vigilanteman

The SDF is the Kurdish-led group fighting ISIS in Syria. They seriously kill ISIS, and have taken almost the whole North of the Country from them. All without accumulating any prisoner population to speak of.

The witches brew of assorted Sunni jihadi “moderate” rebels are the ones who hand over their heavy weapons to their jihadi brothers in al Queda and ISIS.


3 posted on 07/21/2016 2:50:28 PM PDT by BeauBo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: BeauBo

Manbij is called “Little London” for all the foreign fighters...


4 posted on 07/21/2016 2:51:15 PM PDT by 2banana (My common ground with terrorists - they want to die for islam and we want to kill them)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BeauBo
Very good news to hear they are Kurdish-led. Thank you!

Maybe we have "old-school" military advisers on the ground working with them instead of your more typical ObaMao appointees vetted by Valarie Jarrett.

5 posted on 07/21/2016 2:53:55 PM PDT by Vigilanteman (ObaMao: Fake America, Fake Messiah, Fake Black man. How many fakes can you fit into one Zer0?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: BeauBo
Kinda like the Junior Varsity getting escorted from Senior Varsity game for calling our their mascot's name, huh Obambi?

This is absolutely insane. They should all be KILLED (collateral damage be damned), not given free passage for a "time out". Where are our generals and admirals? Oh right, they were either fired or resigned or lost their balls due to Obambi. I feel so bad for our Armed Services and Veterans who live with lost limbs, eyes, etc. Another waste of our best in the sh*t hole called, Middle East.

6 posted on 07/21/2016 2:55:22 PM PDT by A Navy Vet (An Oath Is Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Vigilanteman
Maybe we have "old-school" military advisers on the ground working with them instead of your more typical ObaMao appointees vetted by Valarie Jarrett.
7 posted on 07/21/2016 2:57:41 PM PDT by Mr Apple (HILLARY -- NO COOKIES NO CANDIES NO CAKE NO DESSERTS NO CASHEWS / NO TO THE WALRUS LOOK)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: BeauBo

Dear Obama:
This is NOT the way to fight. Offer them:
1) Surrender with all weapons, or
2) Annihilation.


8 posted on 07/21/2016 3:01:17 PM PDT by libertylover (The problem with Obama is not that his skin is too black, it's that his ideas are too RED.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BeauBo

And the point of this nonsense is?...


9 posted on 07/21/2016 3:04:06 PM PDT by onedoug
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Vigilanteman

There are US Special Operators with them, probably coordinating airstrikes and gathering intel.

The French also have special forces with them, and are also conducting a significant number of airstrikes. Their aircraft carrier, the Charles DeGaulle, shot its wad on ISIS, went back to France to reload, and is fixing to drop all its ordnance again. It was scheduled to sail on Bastille Day, when the Nice terrorist attack occurred - about four days to station.

This is the Summer of Death for ISIS. Casualties are way over recruitment rates. The walls are closing in.

It looks like only Turkey going full jihadi and crossing the Syrian border in force would save them - but they might have to leave NATO for that, and Russia would hit back.


10 posted on 07/21/2016 3:08:46 PM PDT by BeauBo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: BeauBo

Yeah, great idea, then carpet bomb and strafe their columns as they go down the road.


11 posted on 07/21/2016 3:09:58 PM PDT by Bringbackthedraft (HILLARY 2016 - SERIOUSLY? What are they thinking?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BeauBo

Why warn em as they’ll be back another day?

Just bombed the hell out of em.


12 posted on 07/21/2016 3:12:14 PM PDT by Kevin in California
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BeauBo

leave or obozo will order the US military to sprinkle pixy dust and drop talcum powder on you. Now that’s a line in the sand they can’t refuse.


13 posted on 07/21/2016 3:14:50 PM PDT by drypowder
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: onedoug

“And the point of this nonsense is?...”

Just providing periodic updates for your situational awareness, whenever things seem to shift.

It had been a month since Manbij was encircled, and things had gone slowly. Now the pace seems to have picked up.

ISIS has not gotten reinforced in the city, and they have been losing fighters every day. They don’t get ammo resupplied either. If they don’t bolt with this offer, they will only last 2-3 more weeks at this rate of attrition.

This could well be their breaking point.


14 posted on 07/21/2016 3:18:03 PM PDT by BeauBo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Vigilanteman

Rumors on the web the last few days say that 3 of our special force troops were killed in Manbij in a missile attack.


15 posted on 07/21/2016 3:40:23 PM PDT by fella ("As it was before Noah so shall it be again,")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: BeauBo
"U.S.-backed".. Muslim 0dunga wouldn't DARE wage war DIRECTLY inside the territories of his brothers and sisters. That would offend them and be an affront to Islam.

Enough already. We are TIRED of this SH*T. And people wonder why ISIS continues to exist. Because WE haven't fought them DIRECTLY YET. The 0bamatollah won't allow us to.

16 posted on 07/21/2016 3:50:39 PM PDT by CivilWarBrewing (Females DESTROYED America.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BeauBo

Are we\they nuts?
I just don’t get it.

why let them leave ?
kill ‘em or take ‘em prisoner.


17 posted on 07/21/2016 3:53:50 PM PDT by stylin19a
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fella

The ISIS propaganda folks always claim more kills than they get. They have ramped up their web disinformation efforts over Manbij this last week. I have no idea if this is true (3 US SF killed), but it sounds fishy to me at first blush.

During the Fallujah offensive, ISIS and its supporters flooded reports of War Crimes and atrocities. It does suppress some fire, as the good guys try double hard to avoid mistakes. Now they are ramping up accusations in Manbij. The fog of war.


18 posted on 07/21/2016 3:59:28 PM PDT by BeauBo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: stylin19a

“why let them leave ?
kill ‘em or take ‘em prisoner.”

That is what they were doing for a month - not letting them leave, and killing them all.

There were several big fights, as ISIS tried to break out and run, or their buddies to tried to break in, to open a route for their escape. This is a significant change.

My guess is that there are a few factors/possibilities:

- They are running out of time with the larger war plan. They need to wrap up Manbij, because they are falling behind schedule for their next objective (maybe al Bab or Raqqa).

- Russia and the US head back to the negotiations next month, and there is rush to get out of the city and grab ground before the lines are frozen. The Kurds advanced pretty rapidly through the countryside before.

- The local tribes asked for this, because family members are held by ISIS as human shields, and are being killed. Food, water, medical and other basic services are becoming more desperate.

- There was a recent allegation of a bunch of civilians (dozens to hundreds, depending on the story) being killed by a coalition airstrike. It is looking more like agitprop, or greatly exaggerated, but it has been a big public relations issue the last two days.

- They may just sense/know that the jihadis are getting desperate to bolt, and might desert if given a chance. They might not intend to let them get far.


19 posted on 07/21/2016 4:16:22 PM PDT by BeauBo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: BeauBo
Screw that!

Carpet bomb the place to fine rubble...Only a moron would think, if we don't , that the left-over ragheads would be the least bit friendly!

20 posted on 07/21/2016 4:33:33 PM PDT by SuperLuminal (Where is another agitator for republicanism like Sam Adams when we need him?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-24 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson