Locals fleeing from Manbij to FSA areas in Syria

Destabilized by suicide attacks, frightened locals have hit the road to take shelter in Turkish-controlled Jarablus from northern Syria's Manbij, which is under the control of the PKK-affiliated People's Protection Units (YPG).

Hundreds of locals from Manbij have been rushing to the Turkey-controlled areas in fear after 19 people, including four US military personnel, were killed on Wednesday in a bomb attack claimed by ISIS.

According to recent data, people fleeing from the city have reached 700 per day, while long queues are being formed by people waiting to pass the checkpoints. 

The Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) and the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), on the other hand, increased safety measures in the crossing points to Jarablus, dispatching additional military equipment and personnel to the bases on the ground. 

In Jarablus, FSA forces also set up checkpoints on the roads leading to Manbij. While Turkish-backed forces do not allow vehicles to pass as a security measure, local people can enter into the city after a detailed search.

Following the suicide bombing in Manbij, another destabilizing attack Monday targeted the US-backed YPG forces. A car bomb detonated close to a checkpoint in northwestern Syria's al-Shaddadah as a US and YPG convoy was passing by, killing at least five YPG members.