Al-Darj family trying to flee the war-torn city of Manbij heading to Aleppo.

“They were executed by firing squad in front of hundreds of Manbij residents. There were two children among the victims,” reported local media activist Nasser Taljbini.

“By executing the family in public, the ISIS radical group was trying to deliver a message to all civilians who are still residing the city of Manbij, threatening anyone who would leave to face a similar fate,” Taljbini said.

ISIS has been using civilians as human shields in the military operations in Manbij, said local sources.

This comes amid continued clashes between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and ISIS militants in the vicinity of Manbij city.

The SDF is trying to close the 98-km Turkey border pocket of Manbij that has been used by ISIS for years to move its militants in and out of Syria.

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