A sense of normalcy returned to the Syrian town of Manbij, as residents resumed their daily activities after months of besiegement by Islamic State militants.
The U.S.-backed Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) announced earlier this month that they had seized full control of the city near the Turkish border after the departure of the last of the militants, who had been using civilians as human shields.
But evidence of Islamic State's two- year rule over the city remained present on every street corner.
Schools and hospitals were given Islamic names, and the black flags used by IS loomed over every building.
City residents said they had a lot of rebuilding to do, as many buildings and homes were destroyed by the militants.
One of the city's residents, Farah Suleiman, said children were not able to get a proper education under IS rule, with most of the curriculum replaced with an Islamic ones.
"Daesh militants ruined the city, they did not build it. The hospitals, the schools. The children all used to be educated, now they are ignorant. Everything was destroyed, nothing was built, they turned our life to darkness. People were displaced, killed, children were killed, orphaned. Everyone was hurt," she said, using an Arabic acronym for Islamic State.
Another resident, Mohammed Al-Ahmad, said many private homes and properties had been taken over by the militants.
"People were scared to leave their homes. There were a lot of Free Syrian Army rebels here, many of them left the city, but if their mothers were home, they (Islamic State forces) would force her out of her house, and steal her property and money. They also stole Kurdish peoples' homes and turned them into their headquarters. Most of us were civilians that stayed home," he said.
The loss of Manbij, occupied by Islamic State since early 2014, is a big blow to the militants as it is of strategic importance, serving as a conduit for the transit of foreign jihadists and provisions from the Turkish border.
REUTERS
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