Syrian Kurdish forces said Tuesday (June 5th) they would withdraw from Manbij, easing fears of a direct clash between NATO allies, Washington and Ankara, over the strategic northern town, AFP reported.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were key players in the fight against the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS).

Manbij is a Sunni Arab-majority town that lies just 30 kilometres south of the Turkish border, and where US and French troops belonging to the international coalition against ISIS are stationed.

The SDF spearheaded a victorious offensive in 2016 to rid Manbij of ISIS and had kept military advisers in the town to train local forces.

"Now, after more than two years of continuous work and with the Manbij Military Council being self-sufficient in their training, the YPG has decided to pull its military advisers from Manbij," it said in a statement.

The Pentagon said US troops would remain in the town for now.

"There are no plans to move US forces from Manbij. However, more details of the Manbij roadmap are yet to be hammered out and more details will be announced later," spokesman Eric Pahon said.