Islamic State frees hundreds of abducted civilians in north Syria

Beirut: The Islamic State group has freed hundreds of civilians used by the jihadists as human shields while retreating in northern Syrian, US-backed forces and a monitor said on Saturday.

A source from the Syrian Democratic Forces, which pushed IS from the city of Manbij this week with the aid of US-led air strikes, told AFP that some civilians taken by the jihadists as they fled were able to escape while "others were freed".

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor confirmed the account.