Images have emerged of Islamic State fighters using human shields to flee war-torn Manbij in Syria.

IS fighters escaped the city last week after it became clear that the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces would recapture it.

Newly released aerial photos show more than 100 jihadists leaving the city, in the north of the country, in cars and trucks carrying civilian hostages.

Image: Manbij had been held by Islamic State since early 2014

Women and children were also forced to surround the vehicles in the pictures taken on 12 August, it is understood.

After spotting the civilians SDF fighters decided not to open fire.


US military spokesman Chris Garver said: "Civilians were observed in the convoy intermingled with fighters in every vehicle."

Islamic State Uses Human Shields To Flee

Colonel Garver added: "We had to treat them all as noncombatants.

"We didn't shoot, we kept watching.

"We have repeatedly mentioned the care that our partnered forces were taking to avoid civilian casualties and collateral damage, so the partnered forced on the ground did not engage the convoy."

Image: IS fighters left explosives in Manbij as they retreated, Col Garver said

Hundreds of civilians forced into the convoy were released on 13 August, while others escaped.

Colonel Garver said the jihadists, who went north and split up after leaving Manbij, are being tracked by coalition forces.

Their escape comes two months after around 175 IS fighters were killed as they attempted to flee Fallujah in Iraq.

:: Beards Trimmed And Niqabs Burned As Rebels Regain Control

During the fight for Manbij civilians were repeatedly put in harm's way, Colonel Garver said.

He added: "They kept throwing civilians to basically walk into the line of fire, trying to get them shot, to use that potentially as propaganda."

Image: A series of photographs from inside the newly liberated Syrian city of Manbij capture the joy of thousands of civilians evacuated by rebel fighters Image: A man gets his beard trimmed after his neighbourhood was freed by fighters from the Syria Democratic Forces Image: A woman sets fire to a niqab after she was evacuated from an IS-controlled neighbourhood of Manbij Image: A woman hugs an SDF fighter Image: Women carrying babies weep with joy Image: A woman smokes a cigarette after the liberation. Residents of IS-held cities have spoken of public floggings and fines for people caught smoking Image: Continue through for more images from Manbij /

Armed Forces Minister Mike Penning welcomed the recapture of Manbij.

Mr Penning said: "Manbij's liberation is a significant development in the fight against Daesh in Syria.

"The RAF supported the liberation with airstrikes over recent weeks, alongside our coalition partners.

"We thank all our armed forces for their ongoing commitment and bravery in this vitally important fight."