IS 'executes 24 civilians' after seizing village near Manbij
At least 24 civilians were executed after Islamic State [IS] militants seized a village in northern Syria from the US-backed Kurdish-Arab alliance, a monitor said on Friday.
IS executed 24 civilians "in the last 24 hours" after seizing Buyir from the Syrian Democratic Forces [SDF].
The village is located some 10 kilometres [6 miles] northwest of Manbij, a key waypoint between the Turkish border and the IS de facto capital of Raqqa city.
IS seized control of several villages in the countryside northwest of Manbij since launching a "fierce assault" on Thursday, according to the Observatory, which relies on sources inside Syria for its information.
US-led airstrikes on the nearby IS-held village of al-Ghandour also killed 28 civilians, including 7 children, on Thursday night, the Observatory said.
The SDF, backed by airstrikes from a US-led coalition, launched an offensive to retake Manbij from IS on 31 May.
US CENTCOM said the coalition had conducted airstrikes in the area of the town of Manbij in the past 24 hours and was looking into reports that there were civilian casualties.
The alliance managed to enter the town but have since faced fierce opposition from the militants who have fought back with suicide bombers and car bombs.
More than 280,000, more than 470,000 by unofficial estimates, have been killed and millions displaced in Syria's five-year conflict.
Agencies contributed to this report.