Defense Secretary Ash Carter Monday hailed the recapture of Manbij, a key strategic town in Syria as “another significant milestone in the campaign to deal ISIL a lasting defeat.”

“I want to congratulate the people of Manbij, the Manbij Military Council, the Syrian Arab Coalition and the Syrian Democratic Forces for their success in liberating Manbij city from ISIL’s hateful rule,” Carter said in a statement released by the Pentagon.