US-Backed SDF, Turkish-Affiliated Militants Clash in Manbij

The militants supported by the Turkish army and the US-backed Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters engaged in clashes in Northern Manbij in Northern Syria on Thursday.

News ID: 70456

Date: 31 May 2018 - 16:23

TEHRAN (Defapress)- The Kurdish-language Hawar news quoted Manbij military council as reporting that the offensive launched by militants backed by Ankara against the Kurdish positions was repelled after clashes between the two sides.

It added that the Turkey-backed militants attacked the village of al-Mahsanli in Northwestern Manbij with mortar fire, killing and wounding several civilians.

The attacks were launched only a few hours after the Kurds dismissed reports on the US-Turkey agreement on Manbij and withdrawal of the Kurdish forces from the region.

Meantime, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights quoted informed sources as saying that the Manbij military council has set up battalions and military offices in the past few months in full coordination with the US-led coalition.

Kurdish sources reported on Saturday that the US forces had underlined in their meetings with the Kurdish officials that they will remain in Manbij as differences have widened between the American and Turkish militaries over the presence of Kurdish forces in the town.

Hawar news quoted the military command council of Manbij as saying that a meeting was held between an official delegation of the US-led coalition forces' command center and a number of Kurdish commanders in Manbij.

The meeting on the political and security situation of Manbij was held in the presence of William Urback, a representative of the US state department, Commander of the US-led coalition General Jimmy Gerrard, Commander of the Kurdish forces in Manbij Mohammad Mostafa, Sharfan Darwish and Deputy Commander of Manbij military council Ibrahim Banawi.

It added that the US forces have underlined their continued presence in cooperation with the Manbij military council until they prevail control over the entire region.

Meantime, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has several times threatened that he will send his forces to Manbij after driving out the Kurds from Afrin.

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