A U.S. defense official on Friday denied the reports Syria's Bashar al-Assad regime forces entered Manbij.
Syrian state-run SANA news agency reported earlier in the day, regime forces entered the city after the group invited forces to take control of the region and ward off an announced Turkish operation. Turkey sees the group an extension of PKK terrorist organization.
"The reports on regime incursion in Manbij are inaccurate," the official told Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has signaled a cross-border operation against the Kurdish YPG militia group in Syria will happen soon. Since 2016, Ankara has carried out two similar military operations in northern
Syria.
"In the current situation, we are still supporting the integrity of Syrian soil. These areas belong to Syria. Once the terrorist organizations leave the area, we will have nothing left to do there," Erdogan told reporters after Friday prayers in Istanbul.
"It's not just about Manbij, we are aiming to wipe out all terrorist organizations in the region. Our main target is that the YPG takes the necessary lesson here," Erdogan said.
Erdogan’s comments came after the Turkish Defense Ministry said YPG has no authority to invite other elements into Manbij, and warned all parties to refrain from destabilizing the region.
U.S. President Donald Trump last week made the surprise announcement that the U.S. would withdraw its troops from Syria.
The YPG militia "controlling the area with arms does not have the right or power to make a statement or invite other elements on behalf of the local population," the ministry said.
Meanwhile, Turkey-backed National Army operating in the Euphrates Shield Operation area has sent military reinforcements to the front lineof Manbij, according to an opposition official on Monday.
The Hamza Division, which is a member of Free Syria Army (FSA), dispatched fighters and armored vehicles to the border line between YPG/PKK-occupied areas and regime-held areas, Abu Yazan, an FSA commanding officer, told Anadolu Agency.
He said the troops will take up important tasks during a highly anticipated Turkish military operation in the northern city of Manbij.
“Our units headed out to contact regions occupied by YPG terrorists,” Yazan said.
He warned civilians to stay away from YPG/PKK occupied areas.
“We will liberate Manbij by sweeping away terrorists from the area,” he said.
Agencies
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