"The Daesh [Islamic State] headquarters, located in a hospital, was being used as a command center and logistics hub," the release explained. "The SAC [Syrian Arab Coalition] also seized a significant amount of the city during the operation, which provided civilians the opportunity to escape."
The capture on Sunday was preceded by more than 450 coalition airstrikes in and near the mid-sized city close to the Turkish border, according to the release.
Amnesty International said Monday’s bombing, one day after the Daesh headquarters’ capture, could result in the largest loss of civilian lives due to coalition operations in Syria.
The US release said Islamic State forces continued to fight and launch counterattacks from the center of Manbij, and that coalition fighters were moving carefully in an attempt to ensure the safety of trapped civilians.
