The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said the "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL) was largely expelled from Manbij at the weekend after more than two months of ferocious fighting, AFP reported Monday (August 8th).

With air support from the coalition, the Arab-Kurd alliance began its assault on Manbij -- once a major transit point along ISIL's supply route from the border to al-Raqa -- on May 31st, surging into the town itself three weeks later.

But the offensive was slowed by ISIL's use of suicide attackers and car bombs, before a major push last week saw the SDF seize 90% of the town.

Now, the SDF is preparing to clear the "security quarter", a central district where the last pocket of ISIL fighters is thought to be. The alliance estimates that some 130 ISIL fighters are still in the area.

"We are very close to the security quarter," SDF fighter Abu Ammar said, warning that "ISIL is using every malicious tactic in the book, from booby-trapped cars to human shields".

Storming the centre "has been delayed because we are trying to protect civilians and get them out... without causing them any harm", said Fayyad al-Ghanem who heads the Raqa Falcons Brigade, a contingent of the SDF.

"ISIL is now resorting to burning their homes and planting explosives to slow our offensive," he said.

In Manbij on Monday, SDF fighters said they would allow the last remaining ISIL elements to leave if the group freed residents in the security quarter.