Dozens of families began returning to their homes in the southern countryside of Manbij. Forces of the Manbij Military Council have cleared the area of landmines, making it safe for families to return home.

The Manbij Military Council is an umbrella organization of local forces, largely consisting of Kurdish Peoples’ Protection Units (YPG) of the Syrian Democratic Force (SDF). It is overseeing the liberation of Manbij from the Islamic State.

The citizens confirmed that the situation is safe again and life has returned to normal.

Remnants of war kill large numbers of civilians every year. The Islamic State routinely plants landmines and rigs improvised explosives devices to booby-trap civilian areas when they leave a region. Forces are working to clear Manbij of these explosives and make it safe for locals to return home.