REUTERS Jubilant scenes in the recaptured Syrian city of Manbij

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Scenes of jubilation erupted as US-backed forces seized full control of the shattered Syrian city of Manbij and freed thousands of civilian hostages from their ISIS captors. Women took the opportunity to show their disgust at the terror cult's warped version of Islam by taking off their headscarves and veils to uncover their faces. Some even set fire to their discarded clothing in the streets as they hugged each other and danced with joy as the city was taken back from ISIS control for the first time in more than two years.

REUTERS A woman burns he burka on the streets of Manbij

Men also joined in the show of strength by trimming their beards - an act which was forbidden in the city under ISIS's ultra-hardline version of Sharia law. The last remaining ISIS commanders and fighters holed up in the city, near the Syrian/Turkish border, had been using civilians as human shields as they desperately tried to cling on to control. But they were eventually driven out and fled as US-backed Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) swept into the city and freed more than 2,000 people.

REUTERS A freed ISIS hostage enjoys a beard trim in Manbij

The city is now fully under our control but we are undertaking sweeping operations as militant sleeper cells in the city are still a threat Sharfan Darwish

Sharfan Darwish of the SDF allied Manbij Military Council said: "The city is now fully under our control but we are undertaking sweeping operations as militant sleeper cells in the city are still a threat." The SDF's offensive, which began at the end of May, aims to remove ISIS from its strongholds areas along the Turkish border. The Manbij operation, in which US special forces have played a major role on the ground, marks the most ambitious advance by a group allied to Washington in Syria since the US launched its military campaign against ISIS two years ago.

REUTERS Syrian forces celebrate the recapture of Manbij

REUTERS A woman celebrates her freedom with a cigarette

The fight against ISIS Fri, November 18, 2016 The battle against ISIS militants (also abbreviated as Daesh, ISIL, IS and Islamic State) continues in the Middle East. Play slideshow Getty 1 of 183 Forces battle against ISIS