Editing Manbij (section)

==History==

===Antiquity===
[[File:Coin of Bambyce, Achaemenid Eber-Nari.jpg|thumb|Silver ''didrachm'' of 'Abyati, [[Achaemenid Empire|Achaemenid]] dynast/priest of Manbog (Bambyce), dated c. 340-332 BC. '''Obv''': "[[Hadad]] and Ateh" in [[Aramaic language|Aramaic]], facing female bust, wearing necklace. '''Rev''': "Abyaty" in Aramaic, high priest and driver in [[chariot]].]]
The [[Arameans]] called the city "Mnbg" (Manbug).<ref>{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Sew9Lby_MVsC&pg=PA285|title='Al Kanfei Yonah: Collected Studies of Jonas C. Greenfield on Semitic Philology|editor1-first=Shalom M.|editor1-last=Paul|editor2-first=Michael E.|editor2-last=Stone|editor3-first=Avital|editor3-last=Pinnick|first=Jonas Carl|last=Greenfield|publisher=Brill|volume=1|chapter=Aspects of Aramean Religion|isbn=978-9-004-12170-6|series=Biblical Studies and Religious Studies|year=2001|page= 285}}</ref> Manbij was part of the kingdom of [[Bit Adini]] and was annexed by the Assyrians in 856 BC. The Assyrian king [[Shalmaneser III]] renamed it '''Lita-Ashur''' and built a royal palace. The city was reconquered by the Assyrian king [[Tiglath-Pileser III]] in 738 BC.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E1aF0hq1GR8C&pg=PA497|title=The Routledge Handbook of the Peoples and Places of Ancient Western Asia: The Near East from the Early Bronze Age to the Fall of the Persian Empire|author= Trevor Bryce|year=2009|page= 479|isbn=9781134159086}}</ref> The sanctuary of Atargatis predates the Macedonian conquest, as it seems that the city was the center of a dynasty of Aramean priest-kings ruling at the very end of the [[Achaemenid Empire]];<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IA-YlZqHv90C&pg=PA244|title=The Roman Near East, 31 B.C.-A.D. 337|author= Fergus Millar|year=1993|page= 244|isbn=9780674778863}}</ref> two kings are known, 'Abyati and Abd-Hadad.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rrMKKtiBBI4C&pg=PA633|title=The Aramaeans: Their Ancient History, Culture, Religion|author=  Edward Lipiński|year=2000|page= 633|isbn=9789042908598}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9FlmAAAAMAAJ|title=Coinage in Roman Syria: Northern Syria, 64 BC-AD 253|author= Kevin Butcher|year=2004|page= 24|isbn=9780901405586}}</ref> The fate of Abd-Hadad is not known but the city came firmly under the Macedonian empire,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0r3KAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA147|title=Seleukos Nikator (Routledge Revivals): Constructing a Hellenistic Kingdom|author=  John D Grainger|year=2014|page= 147|isbn=9781317800996}}</ref> and prospered under the rule of the [[Seleucid]]s who made it the chief station on their main road between [[Antioch]] and [[Seleucia on the Tigris]]. The temple was sacked by [[Crassus]] on his way to meet the [[Parthia]]ns (53 BC). The [[coin]]age of the city begins in the 4th century BC with the coins of the priest-kings followed by the [[Aramaic]] series of the Macedonian and Seleucid monarchs. They show Atargatis either as a bust with [[mural crown]] or as riding on a [[lion]]. She continues to supply the chief type even during imperial Roman times, being generally shown seated with the [[Timpani|tympanum]] in her hand. Other coins substitute the legend Θεάς Συρίας Ιεροπολιτόν ''Theas Syrias Ieropoliton'' within a [[wreath]].<ref name="EB1911"/>

In the third century, the city was the capital of [[Euphratensis]] province and one of the great cities of [[Roman Syria]]. It was, however, in a ruinous state when [[Julian the Apostate|Julian]] gathered his troops there before marching to his defeat and death in [[Mesopotamia]]. Sassanid Emperor [[Khosrau I of Persia|Khosrau I]] held it to ransom after [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] Emperor [[Justinian I]] had failed to defend it.<ref name="EB1911"/>

===Middle Ages===
The [[Abbasid Caliphate|Abbasid]] caliph [[Harun al-Rashid]] restored Manbij at the end of the 8th century, making it the capital of the frontier province of [[al-Awasim]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Cobb|first1=Paul M.|title=White Banners: Contention in 'Abbasid Syria, 750-880|date=2001|publisher=SUNY Press|isbn=9780791448809|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2C6KIBw4F9YC&q=Abu+Muhammad+al-Sufyani|page=12}}</ref> Afterward, the city became a point of contention between the Byzantines, [[Arabs]] and [[Turkic peoples|Turkic]] groups. The Arab chieftain [[Salih ibn Mirdas]] captured it circa 1022, making Manbij, along with [[Barbalissos|Balis]] and [[al-Rahba]], the foundation of his [[Mirdasid dynasty|Mirdasid emirate]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Zakkar|first1=Suhayl|title=The Emirate of Aleppo: 1004–1094|date=1971|publisher=Dar al-Amanah|location=Aleppo|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sbltAAAAMAAJ|page=53}}</ref> At the time, Manbij was one of the most important fortresses in northern Syria.<ref name="Basan76">{{cite book|last1=Basan|first1=Osman Aziz|title=The Great Seljuqs: A History|date=2010|publisher=Routledge|page=76|isbn=9781136953934|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4p0tCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA76}}</ref> In 1068, the Byzantine emperor [[Romanos Diogenes]] captured it, defeated the Mirdasids and their [[Bedouin]] allies, killed the city's inhabitants and plundered the surrounding countryside.<ref name="IbnAthir166">{{cite book|author1=Ibn al-Athir|editor1-last=Richards|editor1-first=D.S.|title=The Annals of the Saljuq Turks: Selections from Al-Kamil Fi'l-Ta'rikh of Ibn Al-Athir|date=2002|publisher=Routledge|page=166|isbn=9781317832553|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KB1IAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA166}}</ref> Romanos later withdrew due to a severe shortage of food and supplies.<ref name="Basan76"/><ref name="IbnAthir166"/> It was later captured by Seljuk Sultan [[Malik-Shah I]] in 1086.{{sfn|Purton|2009|p=184}} In 1124, [[Belek Ghazi]] tried to annex Manbij, after he had imprisoned its emir Hassan al-Ba'labakki, but he was hit and killed by an arrow during the siege.{{sfn|Richards|2010|p=619}}

The [[Crusaders]] never captured Manbij during their 11th–12th century invasions of the [[Levant]], but the [[Latin Church]] archbishopric of Hierapolis was re-established in the town of [[Duluk]] by 1134.<ref name="Hamilton175180">{{cite book|last1=Hamilton|first1=Bernard|editor1-last=Ciggaar|editor1-first=K.|editor2-last=Metcalf|editor2-first=M.|title=East and West in the Medieval Eastern Mediterranean: Antioch from the Byzantine Reconquest Until the End of the Crusader Principality|date=2006|publisher=Peeters Publishers|pages=175, 180|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DO8qTYM71tQC&pg=PA175|chapter=The Growth of the Latin Church of Antioch|isbn=9789042917354}}</ref> By 1152, Duluk and Manbij were captured by the [[Zengid dynasty|Zengid]]s under [[Nur ad-Din, atabeg of Aleppo|Nur ad-Din]],<ref name="Hamilton175180"/> who reconstructed and strengthened the city's fortress.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hillenbrand|first1=Carole|title=The Crusades: Islamic Perspectives|date=2000|publisher=Routledge|page=474|isbn=9780415929141|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UalnoF5MBHMC&pg=PA110}}</ref> The [[Ayyubid dynasty|Ayyubid]] sultan, [[Saladin]], conquered it from its Zengid lord, Qutb ad-Din Inal, in 1175.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Lyons|first1=Malcolm Cameron|last2=Jackson|first2=D. E. P.|title=Saladin: The Politics of the Holy War|date=1982|publisher=Cambridge University Press|page=105|isbn=9780521317399|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hGR5M0druJIC&pg=PA105}}</ref> In 1260, the [[Mongol Empire|Mongols]] under [[Hulagu]] destroyed Ayyubid Manbij, which was consequently abandoned by its [[Turkoman (ethnonym)|Turkmen]] and [[Assyrian people|Assyrian]] inhabitants as they migrated to [[Aleppo]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Amitai-Preiss|first1=Reuven|title=Mongols and Mamluks: The Mamluk-Ilkhanid War, 1260-128|date=1995|publisher=Cambridge University Press|page=204|isbn=9780521522908|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DFO-eV9cQ0sC&pg=PA204}}</ref>

===Modern era===
Manbij's ruins are extensive but mostly belong to the later period of its history.<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/place/Hierapolis-ancient-city-Syria "Hierapolis"], in - The new Encyclopædia Britannica: Volume 5, 2002, page 913</ref> Most of the monuments of Manbij are gone, because it is a strategically important place at a group of crossroads, unlike [[Cyrrhus]] whose bishop was under Manbij. [[Henry Maundrell]] who visited Mambij in 1699 noticed a rock with large busts of a male and a female with two eagles below them. Another rock had three figures sculpted in [[low relief]]. [[Constantin François de Chassebœuf, comte de Volney|Volney]] who visited the place in 18th century mentioned that no remains of Atargatis' temple existed. Alexander Drummond noticed walls of a square building which he said was Atargatis' temple and also a base in the building which he identified as an altar.<ref name=,volney>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1LhRDQAAQBAJ&q=menbij+cyrrhus+maundrell&pg=PA243|title=Syria's Monuments: Their Survival and Destruction|pages=243, 244|isbn=9789004334601|last1=Greenhalgh|first1=Michael|date=3 November 2016}}</ref>

Travellers in the 19th century had recorded some of its ancient remains, but now almost all of them, including Atargatis' temple, its [[sacred lake]], [[colonnades]], [[Roman baths]], [[Roman theatre (structure)|Roman theatres]], walls and churches built by the [[Byzantine Empire]] as well as [[madrassas]] built in the medieval era, have been destroyed. The sacred lake of Atargatis has disappeared and has been converted into a football field. Only a part of the wall that enclosed the lake has survived but no ruins of Atargatis' temple remains. Some ancient Roman military stele also exist.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z_IBAwAAQBAJ&q=menbij+lake+football&pg=PA202|title=Monuments of Syria: A Guide|pages=202, 203|isbn=9780857714893|last1=Burns|first1=Ross|date=30 June 2009}}</ref> Ruins of the southern wall that enclosed Atargatis' temple still survive.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=jz4lDwAAQBAJ&dq=remains+of+the+southern+enclosure+wall+of+the+temple+of+atargatis&pg=PA36 Ross Burns. "Aleppo: A History"], p. 36</ref> The walls of the city still exist but have been plundered.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=WaocBgAAQBAJ&dq=manbij+walls+survey&pg=PA98 A. Asa Eger. "The Islamic-Byzantine Frontier:&nbsp;Interaction and Exchange Among Muslim and Christian Communities"], p. 36</ref>

The [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman government]] resettled the area with [[Circassian people|Circassian]] refugees from the [[Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878)|Russo-Turkish War]] in 1878.<ref>Sir [[Ernest Alfred Wallis Budge]], By Nile and Tigris:&nbsp;A Narrative of Journeys in Egypt and Mesopotamia on Behalf of the British Museum Between the Years 1886-1913, Volume 1, p. 390, [https://archive.org/details/byniletigrisnarr01budguoft/page/389]</ref> As of 1911, its 1,500 inhabitants were all Circassians.<ref name='ce'/> [[Armenian people|Armenian]] refugees settled in Manbij during the [[Armenian genocide]]. In autumn 1915 [[Djemal Pasha]] ordered the establishment of a camp for about 1000 families of the Armenian [[Clergy]]. In January and February 1916 the sub prefect of Manbij ordered the camp to be cleared and the Armenians to be deported to Meskene.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kevorkian|first=Raymond|title=Le réseaux des camps de concentration. Axes de déportation et camps de concentration de Syrie et de Mésopotamie|url=https://www.imprescriptible.fr/rhac/tome2/p1e#mounboudj|access-date=2020-12-07|website=www.imprescriptible.fr}}</ref> The destruction of pre-modern Manbij has been attributed to its resettlement by Circassians and Armenians.<ref name=,volney/>

====Syrian Civil War====
{{see also|Manbij offensive (2016)}}
[[File:US SOF near Manbij.png|thumb|[[United States special operations forces]] near Manbij, acting as advisors to the [[Syrian Democratic Forces]], March 2017]]
Before and in the early years of the [[Syrian Civil War]], Manbij had an ethnically diverse population of [[Arab]], [[Kurds in Syria|Kurdish]], [[Syrian Turkmen|Turkmen]], and [[Circassians in Syria|Circassian]] [[Sunni Muslim]]s, many of whom followed the [[Naqshbandi]] Sufi order. The city's socio-political life was dominated by its main tribes. Tribal leaders served as the mediators and arbiters of major disputes in Manbij, while the state's security forces largely dealt with petty offenses. The city was relatively liberal compared to other Sunni Muslim-majority cities in the countryside of Aleppo.<ref name="MERIP">{{cite web|last1=Khaddour|first1=Kheder|last2=Mazur|first2=Kevin|title=The Struggle for Syria's Regions|url=http://www.merip.org/mer/mer269/struggle-syrias-regions|publisher=Middle East Research and Information Project|access-date=27 August 2015|date=Winter 2013}}</ref>

During the civil war, on 20 July 2012, Manbij fell to local rebel forces who thereafter administered the city. In December, there was an election to appoint a local council.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0mRKAfIY_o | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523214910/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0mRKAfIY_o| archive-date=2014-05-23 | url-status=dead|title=المجالس المحلية .. خطوة نحو الأمام |publisher= SyriaTomorrow |date=9 December 2012 |access-date=9 December 2012}}</ref> In January 2014, forces from the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]] (ISIL) took over the city after ousting the [[Free Syrian Army|rebels]]. The city has since become a hub for trading in looted artifacts and archaeological digging equipment.<ref>{{cite news|title=Al Qaeda chief Zawahri tells Islamists in Syria to unite - audio|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-syria-crisis-zawahri-idUKBREA0M0DU20140123|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203171048/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-syria-crisis-zawahri-idUKBREA0M0DU20140123|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 3, 2016|access-date=27 August 2015|work=Reuters|date=2015-01-23}}</ref> In June 2016, the [[Syrian Democratic Forces]] (SDF) launched an [[Manbij offensive (2016)|offensive]] to capture Manbij,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/06/sdf-closes-isil-supply-route-syria-manbij-160602084213370.html|publisher=Al Jazeera|date=3 June 2016|access-date=3 June 2016|title=SDF closes in on ISIL supply route in Syria's Manbij}}</ref> and by 8 June had fully encircled the city.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-manbij-idUSKCN0YW0T1|work=Reuters|date=8 June 2016|title=U.S.-backed forces cut off all routes into IS-held Manbij: Syrian Observatory}}</ref> On 12 August the SDF had established full control over Manbij after a two-month battle.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/sdf-captures-isiss-largest-stronghold-aleppo/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817030204/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/sdf-captures-isiss-largest-stronghold-aleppo/|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 August 2016|title=SDF captures ISIS's largest stronghold in Aleppo|last=Charkatli|first=Izat|date=2016-08-12|language=en-US|access-date=2016-08-13}}</ref>

[[File:Joint Syrian-Russian base near Manbij.png|thumb|Joint Syrian-Russian base near Manbij, 2017]]
By 15 August, thousands of previously displaced citizens of Manbij were reported returning.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2016/08/15/thousands-return-to-manbij-after-islamic-state-militants-flee-city|title=Thousands Return To Manbij After Islamic State Militants Flee City|publisher=News Deeply|date=15 August 2016|access-date=2016-10-15}}</ref> On 19 August 2016, the [[Manbij Military Council]] issued a written statement announcing it had taken over the security of Manbij city center and villages from the SDF, of which it is a component.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/manbij-military-council-takes-over-the-security-of-manbij|title=Manbij Military Council takes over the security of Manbij|work=ANF|date=19 August 2016}}</ref>

Today Manbij is self-administered by the Manbij City Council, co-chaired by Sheikh Farouk al-Mashi and Salih Haji Mohammed,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/06/05/on-the-front-line-in-the-bloody-fight-to-take-manbij-from-isis.html|title=On the Front Line in the Bloody Fight to Take Manbij From ISIS|work=The Daily Beast|date=5 June 2016|access-date=2016-10-15}}</ref> as part of [[Shahba region]] within the ''de facto'' autonomous [[Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria|Federation of Northern Syria – Rojava]] framework. While public administration including public schools has regained secular normalcy after the ISIL episode,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/syrian-kids-relish-return-school-ex-bastion|title=Syrian kids relish return to school in ex-IS bastion|publisher=ReliefWeb (AFP)|date=28 September 2016|access-date=2016-10-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://aranews.net/2016/10/manbij-students-back-school-isis-explosives-dismantled/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012172853/http://aranews.net/2016/10/manbij-students-back-school-isis-explosives-dismantled/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 12, 2016|title=Manbij: students back to school after ISIS explosives dismantled|publisher=ARA News|date=10 October 2016|access-date=2016-10-15}}</ref> a reconciliation committee to overcome rifts created by the civil war was formed,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.hawarnews.com/reconciliation-committee-formed-of-manbij-tribal-notables-and-intellectuals/|title=Reconciliation committee formed of Manbij tribal notables and intellectuals|publisher=[[Hawar News Agency]]|date=9 October 2016|access-date=2016-10-15|archive-date=2017-10-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010111942/http://en.hawarnews.com/reconciliation-committee-formed-of-manbij-tribal-notables-and-intellectuals/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and international humanitarian aid has been delivered,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aranews.net/2016/09/us-led-coalition-delivering-aid-civilians-post-isis-manbij/|title=US-led coalition delivering aid to civilians in post-ISIS Manbij|publisher=ARA News|date=25 September 2016|access-date=2016-10-15|archive-date=2018-09-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926130645/http://aranews.net/2016/09/us-led-coalition-delivering-aid-civilians-post-isis-manbij/|url-status=dead}}</ref> the [[Democratic confederalism|democratic confederalist]] political program of Rojava is driving political and societal transformations in terms of [[direct democracy]] and [[gender equality]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Syrian women liberated from Isis are joining the police to protect their city|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/isis-syria-women-liberated-create-police-force-a7359376.html|newspaper=The Independent|date=13 October 2016|access-date=2016-10-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Liberated from ISIS suppression, women of Manbij join security forces (includes Video)|url=http://aranews.net/2016/10/liberated-isis-suppression-women-manbij-join-armed-forces-protect-city/|publisher=ARA News|date=13 October 2016|access-date=2016-10-15|archive-date=2018-10-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001051405/http://aranews.net/2016/10/liberated-isis-suppression-women-manbij-join-armed-forces-protect-city/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Reconstruction after devastations of civil war combat<ref>{{cite web|title=(Video) Manbij after liberation|website = [[YouTube]]|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0fjnUINvdc| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108131026/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0fjnUINvdc| archive-date=2020-11-08 | url-status=dead|date=23 August 2016|access-date=2016-10-15}}</ref> remains a major challenge.

[[File:Combined Joint U.S., Turkey Patrols2.jpg|thumb|American and Turkish soldiers conduct patrols on the outskirts of Manbij, November 1, 2018]]
Until October 2019, when US and other Western forces withdrew from northern Syria, Manbij was also a hub for [[Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve]] training of new SDF recruits in the fight against ISIL and other [[Islamism|Islamist]] militias in Syria.<ref>{{cite news|title=U.S. military aid is fueling big ambitions for Syria's leftist Kurdish militia|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/us-military-aid-is-fueling-big-ambitions-for-syrias-leftist-kurdish-militia/2017/01/07/6e457866-c79f-11e6-acda-59924caa2450_story.html|date=7 January 2017}}</ref> On 26 February, the United States announced its support for the security of the Manbij Military Council. The United States also reportedly sent special forces and several military convoys to Manbij after the announcement.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/us-confirms-support-for-manbij-military-council-despite-turkish-threats/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227045932/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/us-confirms-support-for-manbij-military-council-despite-turkish-threats/|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 February 2017|title=US confirms support for Manbij Military Council despite Turkish threats|first=Paul|last=Antonopoulos|date=26 February 2017}}</ref>

On 12 March 2017, the Legislative Assembly of Manbij approved the elected co-presidents who then took office. During the meeting the departments of the committee members, co-presidents and committees were determined after speeches and evaluations. 13 committees were determined.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://anfenglish.com/news/manbij-democratic-civilian-administration-council-takes-office-18957|title=Manbij Democratic Civilian Administration Council takes office|website=ANF News}}</ref> The 13 new committees include 71 Arabs, 43 Kurds, 10 Turkmen, 8 [[Circassians in Syria|Circassians]], an [[Armenians in Syria|Armenian]] and a [[Chechens|Chechen]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://komnews.com/manbij-declares-new-administration-much-contested-city/|title=Manbij declares new administration in much-contested city|work=Kom News|date=12 March 2017|access-date=14 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314154110/https://komnews.com/manbij-declares-new-administration-much-contested-city/|archive-date=14 March 2017|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

On 1 November 2018, [[Turkish Armed Forces|Turkish]] and [[United States Armed Forces|US troops]] began joint patrols around Manbij along the front lines of the [[Operation Euphrates Shield|Euphrates Shield]] [[Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army|rebel]] territory and the [[Manbij Military Council]]. The joint patrols were seen as part of a "roadmap" for easing tensions between militants in the region and tensions between the two [[NATO]] allies.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoints/2018/11/01/us-turkey-begin-joint-patrols-around-northern-syrian-town-of-manbij/|title=US, Turkey begin joint patrols around northern Syrian town of Manbij|date=1 November 2018}}</ref>

On 28 December 2018, the [[People's Protection Units|YPG]] asked the Assad government via Twitter to protect Manbij from attacks by the [[Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army]]. The Syrian government's media said the Syrian army had entered Manbij, a claim that was disputed by other sources the same day. The [[Syrian Observatory for Human Rights]] reported that the Syrian Army was still outside of the town.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-03-05|title=Nordsyrien: Assad-Truppen schon in Manbidsch? {{!}} tagesschau.de|url=https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/syrien-tuerkei-offensive-101.html|access-date=2021-09-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190305204043/https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/syrien-tuerkei-offensive-101.html|archive-date=2019-03-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=29 December 2018|title=Syrian army says it has entered key city|website=cnn.com|publisher=[[CNN]]|url=https://edition.cnn.com/videos/us/2018/12/29/syria-army-manbij-barbara-starr-dnt-tsr-vpx.cnn}}</ref><ref>[https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/syria-army-enters-manbij-state-media-181228092705808.html Syria army enters Kurdish-held Manbij: state media: Reported troop entry into Manbij comes after Kurdish YPG asked for government help in preventing a 'Turkish invasion'.] Aljazeera, 28 December 2018.</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-46701095 Syria war: Government forces 'enter Manbij' amid Turkey threats.] BBC, 28 December 2018.</ref>

On 15 January 2019, [[2019 Manbij bombing|a suicide attack]] in Manbij claimed by ISIL left at least 19 casualties. Among them, four U.S. military personnel were reported dead and three wounded. One of the dead was a [[U.S. Army]] soldier, one was [[U.S. Navy]] sailor [[Shannon M. Kent]], one was a U.S. [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] civilian working in support of the [[Defense Intelligence Agency]], and one was an employee of Valiant Integrated Services, a [[Private military company|contractor]] supporting American operations.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/pentagon-identifies-three-of-the-four-americans-killed-in-syria-suicide-bombing/2019/01/18/5c9f31b8-1b1e-11e9-88fe-f9f77a3bcb6c_story.html|title=Americans slain in Syria attack: A Green Beret, a former SEAL and two language specialists|date=January 18, 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=January 21, 2019}}</ref>

During the [[2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria]], following the withdraw of US and other Western troops from northern Syria, the Syrian Arab Army and [[Russian Military Police]] entered Manbij to preempt a Turkish and TFSA offensive.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/syria-says-government-soldiers-enter-manbij-after-us-troops-withdraw/2019/10/15/d494405a-eeb8-11e9-bb7e-d2026ee0c199_story.html|title=Russia patrolling between Turkish and Syrian forces after U.S. troops withdraw|last=Fahim|first=Kareem|date=October 15, 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=16 October 2019}}</ref>
	
On 6 December 2024, the [[Syrian National Army]] launched [[Manbij offensive (2024)|an offensive]] on Manbij against the Syrian Democratic Forces.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.aljazeera.net/news/2024/12/8/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B6%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%B7%D8%B1-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%A8%D8%AC-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%81 | title=المعارضة السورية تسيطر على منبج بريف حلب وجبلة باللاذقية}}</ref> On 9 December 2024, it was reported, that the SNA took control of the city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Syrian opposition groups take control of Manbij in northern Syria, says Turkish security source |url=https://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/middleeastnews/822913/syrian-opposition-groups-take-control-of-manbij-in-northern-syria-says/en |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=LBCIV7 |language=en}}</ref> Since the takeover, Manbij has faced a sharp rise in security incidents and looting, mirroring trends in other areas under SNA control. The [[Syrian Observatory for Human Rights|SOHR]] reported that SNA militants had looted the houses of Kurdish residents.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=8 February 2025 |title=“SOHR camera” captures the house of a “Kurdish” civilian in Manbij City after the contents of the house were stolen by factions of the “National Army” |url=https://www.syriahr.com/en/355427/ |access-date=2025-02-08 |website=Syrian Observatory For Human Rights |language=en-CA}}</ref> On February 3, 2025, a [[Car bomb|VBIED]] detonated near the Hassin station, just outside Manbij City, killing at least 19 people. The following day, residents of the city conducted a [[general strike]] to protest the negligence of pro-Turkish factions in maintaining security and order.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 February 2025 |title=Institute for the Study of War |url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-february-3-2025 |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Institute for the Study of War |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=4 February 2025 |title=Following recent events - People start strike in Manbij |url=https://www.syriahr.com/en/355103/ |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Syrian Observatory For Human Rights |language=}}</ref>