The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Thursday (July 21st) gave the "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL) 48 hours to leave the battleground Syrian town of Manbij, AFP reported.

The Arab-Kurd opposition alliance said the ultimatum was intended to "protect civilian lives" in Manbij, an ISIL stronghold in Aleppo province.

The alliance has been fighting to oust ISIL from the town since June.

"This initiative is the last remaining chance for besieged members of ISIL to leave the town," the Manbij Military Council, which is part of the SDF, said in a statement.

"In order to protect civilian lives and property and to protect the town from destruction we announce that we accept the initiative under which besieged ISIL members would leave with their individual light weapons," the statement added.

The initiative was first floated last week by tribal leaders in Manbij, an SDF commander said.

"But we took this decision now after ISIL used residents as human shields, after the media pressure on us, and to protect whatever civilians are left in the town," the commander said.

The statement also urged civilians to try to leave Manbij or distance themselves from areas where clashes are taking place.