Thousands return after IS militants flee Manbij

Civilians back in the conflict-torn city after US-backed fighters clear around 13,000 mines

Thousands of displaced residents streamed back into the northern Syrian town of Manbij on Saturday after US-backed fighters ousted the last Islamic State militants from their former stronghold, residents and US allies said.

The Syria Democratic Forces announced on Friday 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.