Kremlin Confirms Information on Syrian Army Taking Control of Manbij
On Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan brushed off the report on Manbij passing under the Syrian government's control as a "psychological operation", saying that "there is nothing definite yet".
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Saturday the information that the Syrian government's forces had taken control of the city of Manbij was true.
On Friday, the Syrian Arab Army announced its troops had entered the northern city of Manbij after a request by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) to take control of the town ahead of Turkey's looming offensive in the area.
"Considering the obligation of the army to respond to the call by the people of Manbij, the General Staff declares that the army has entered Manbij and raised the flag of the Syrian Arab Republic there", the army's statement was cited by the Syrian state broadcaster.
Once the news broke, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dismissed the claims as a "psychological operation" and said that the situation in the area remained unclear.
The Turkish president further said that Ankara's main goal in the Arab Republic was to drive terrorists out of the country:
"We are against dividing Syria, our goal is to have terrorists out of there. Then we will have no other business there", he stressed.
Erdogan expressed readiness to launch a military operation against Kurdish fighters in Manbij this month, but eventually postponed the offensive following a phone converation with US President Donald Trump, who decided to withdraw American troops from the Mideast country. Ankara considers the YPG to be affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party, listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey.
Nebenzya: Syrian army control on borders with Iraq will curb threats of Daesh
Russia’s permanent representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya affirmed on Saturday that the Syrian army control on borders with Iraq will curb threats of the terrorist organization of Daesh.
Nebenzya, added in an interview with NOVOSTI that Moscow is confident that the Syrian army control over the Syrian-Iraqi borders will help eliminate the threat posed by Daesh.
He said that the withdrawal of foreign troops, present on the Syrian territory without the acceptance of the Syrian legitimate authorities, is a step in the right direction.
President al-Assad receives letter from Iraqi Prime Minister on bilateral cooperation, particularly combating terrorism
President Bashar al-Assad received on Saturday a message from Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi conveyed by Iraqi National Security Adviser Faleh al-Fayad.
The message concentrated on the developments of relations between the two countries and the necessity of continuing coordination between them on all levels, particularly in regards to combating terrorism and the cooperation in this regards, especially along borders between the two states.
During the meeting, President al-Assad underlined that good relations with Iraq and the standing cooperation in the fight against terrorism have formed a powerful factor for both countries in their war against terrorism.
President al-Assad affirmed the importance of continuing this cooperation and coordination until eliminating the remaining of terrorist cells in some Syrian and Iraqi regions.
Viewpoints were also exchanged about the latest developments on the regional and international arenas.
President al-Assad stressed that the positive events witnessed in the region, particularly on the level of restoring security and stability in the majority of Syrian and Iraqi cities affirm that the will of people in the region in keeping sovereignty of their regions was more powerful than the external plots.
Al-Fayad, for his part, said that the success of the Iraqi people in confronting terrorism and the victories achieved by Syria and its capability of restoring security and defeating terrorism in the majority of its territories, the latest of which was the entry of the Syrian army to Manbij, are all good indications for the whole region.
Talks during the meeting dealt with bilateral relations between the two brotherly states and means of developing them in all domains in the interest of the Syrian and Iraqi people.
Syrian Army reinforcements pour into Manbij area to counteract Turkish troops
A large group of reinforcements from the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) made their way from Aleppo city to the outskirts of Manbij this afternoon, a military source told Al-Masdar News.
According to the military source, the Syrian Arab Army reinforcements were deployed to the northwestern outskirts of Manbij, where they were ordered to stand their ground against any potential Turkish aggression on the city.
The reinforcements were mostly comprised of soldiers from the Republican Guard units that were deployed in the northeastern part of Aleppo.
More reinforcements are expected to head to the outskirts of Manbij in the coming hours as they attempt to ward off the Turkish-backed rebels that are threatening to capture the city from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Syrian Army Highly on Alert to Counter Turkish Troops' Possible Operation in Manbij
The sources said that the Damascus forces, deployed in Manbji, are on alert to counter any attack by the Turkish soldiers and Ankara-backed militants.
The sources went on to say that the Army Command has ordered Presidential Guard Forces and other Damascus soldiers to give a crushing response to any military operation by the Ankara forces in Manbij region.
They further said that the Ankara forces have started preparing for a military operation in Manbij after the Syrian Army's arrival in the region.
The sources quoted Ziad Hajji Obeid, Commander of the militants of Turkey-backed National Army, as saying that a sum of 15,000 militants from his group have prepared to enter Manbij, adding that almost 25,000 gunmen of the Ankara-backed Free Army have been preparing to enter the towns of Tal Abyadh and Ra'as al-Ein.
Turkey deploys 50 tanks to border with Syria — TV
The Turkish General Staff has deployed about 50 tanks to the Syrian border amid the preparation for a new military operation in Syria, TV channel Haberturk reported on Saturday.
The tanks were deployed yesterday morning under the command of the 20th armored brigade in the city of Sanliurfa. The equipment was deployed from Hatay Province. It was reported that in the future military equipment will be located directly on the Syrian border.
During the last several weeks Ankara has been reinforcing garrisons and army units with armored and support vehicles and artillery weapons. It is linked to the preparation for a new military operation of Turkey in Syria in the Manbij area, which entered its active stage following US President Donald Trump's declaration of the upcoming withdrawal of the American forces from Syria. Manbij is one of the largest Kurdish centers in eastern Syria, and Ankara believes that Kurds should leave it and give the city to the Arab population of the country.
The Kurdish troops tried to refrain from direct confrontation with the Syrian government and did not support the opposition, demanding autonomy. The Kurds found themselves in isolation facing the threat of the Turkish invasion and addressed Damascus for help on Friday, suggesting that the army should occupy the regions in Manbij controlled by them. The Syrian General Staff reported on Friday that the government forces entered Manbij, but the Turkish side did not comment on this information.
On December 12, the Turkish president reported the intention to start an operation in the coming days against the Kurdish People’s Protection Units and the Democratic Union, which Ankara considers to be the Syrian branch of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River. Before that, Turkey already held two military operations on Syrian territory: Operation Euphrates Shield and Operation Olive Branch, as a result of which a buffer zone of security was created between the bordering cities of Azaz and Jarabulus, and the Afrin region, which is populated by Kurds, was occupied.
VIDEO: TURKEY CONTINUES TO DEPLOY BATTLE TANKS, OTHER MILITARY EQUIPMENT TO BORDER WITH SYRIA
As Syrian government forces continue to bargain with the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) and local YPG allies over the control of the northern Syrian town of Manbij [Syrian army troops have not entered the town yet], Turkey is deploying more and more military equipment on the border withthe country.
If the YPG and the Damascus government find no comprehensive political solution on the situation in Manbij, the situation may escalate rapidly in the Manbij countryside. Turkish-backed militant groups and the Turkish Army have concentrated a large force near the area and they are openly threatening to employ it against the YPG, which they concisder to be a terrorist group.
On December 29, a high-profile Turksih delegation is also visiting Moscow to negotiate on the situation in Syria.
Syria: Turkey Dispatches ISIL Terrorists to Manbij Outskirts
Xeber 24 news website, affiliated to the Kurdish militia, reported that a large number of ISIL and Tahrir al-Sham terrorists are accompanying Turkish army convoys deployed in Manbij region in Northern Syria.
It further said that the Turkish army had used the ISIL in the Afrin occupation operation as well.
The news website went on to say that the Turkish army forwarded a military convoy to Eastern Aleppo via Jarabulus border-crossing after arrival of the Syrian Army in Manbij.
Another military convoy of the Turkish Army has been dispatched to Ilbaili region in Kilis province at border with Syria.
In the meantime, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that Ankara is sending a growing number of forces to Manbij outskirts.
US-Backed SDF Sends Aid Convoy to ISIL Terrorists in Eastern Syria
The sources reported that a number of SDF vehicles, carrying food stuff, were sent to al-Sha'afah via al-Alalouni passageway in Eastern Deir Ezzur.
The sources pointed to a possible agreement between the SDF and the ISIL over sending the convoy in return for receiving a hefty amount of money by the Washington-backed militia.
In November, the Arabic-language al-Ma'aloumah news website quoted Ahamd al-Sahrifi, an Iraqi security expert, as disclosing that the US intended to heliborne ISIL terrorists from Syria-Iraq border to regions behind Iraqi forces' positions near border with Syria.
It further said that the US plan to heliborne ISIL to Iraq came after the Iraqi forces deployed at border with Syria and close off any infiltration by terrorists into Iraq.
Al-Sharifi further said that ISIL has not only been supported financially and militarily in the battlefield but also received logistic and diplomatic backup in regional and international arenas.
Watch: Kurdish women take part in battle against ISIS in Deir Ezzor
The Kurdish women of the People’s Protection Units (YPJ) have played an integral role in the battle against the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL/IS/Daesh), often providing necessary military support along the front-lines with the terrorist group.
During the battle for Hajin, the YPJ helped overwhelm the remaining Islamic State militants inside the town, paving the way for the complete capture of the area.
As shown in the short video below, the YPJ can be seen taking the battle to the remaining Islamic State terrorists that are still active in the Hajin area:
On Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan brushed off the report on Manbij passing under the Syrian government's control as a "psychological operation", saying that "there is nothing definite yet".
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Saturday the information that the Syrian government's forces had taken control of the city of Manbij was true.
On Friday, the Syrian Arab Army announced its troops had entered the northern city of Manbij after a request by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) to take control of the town ahead of Turkey's looming offensive in the area.
"Considering the obligation of the army to respond to the call by the people of Manbij, the General Staff declares that the army has entered Manbij and raised the flag of the Syrian Arab Republic there", the army's statement was cited by the Syrian state broadcaster.
Once the news broke, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dismissed the claims as a "psychological operation" and said that the situation in the area remained unclear.
The Turkish president further said that Ankara's main goal in the Arab Republic was to drive terrorists out of the country:
"We are against dividing Syria, our goal is to have terrorists out of there. Then we will have no other business there", he stressed.
Erdogan expressed readiness to launch a military operation against Kurdish fighters in Manbij this month, but eventually postponed the offensive following a phone converation with US President Donald Trump, who decided to withdraw American troops from the Mideast country. Ankara considers the YPG to be affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party, listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey.
Nebenzya: Syrian army control on borders with Iraq will curb threats of Daesh
Russia’s permanent representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya affirmed on Saturday that the Syrian army control on borders with Iraq will curb threats of the terrorist organization of Daesh.
Nebenzya, added in an interview with NOVOSTI that Moscow is confident that the Syrian army control over the Syrian-Iraqi borders will help eliminate the threat posed by Daesh.
He said that the withdrawal of foreign troops, present on the Syrian territory without the acceptance of the Syrian legitimate authorities, is a step in the right direction.
President al-Assad receives letter from Iraqi Prime Minister on bilateral cooperation, particularly combating terrorism
President Bashar al-Assad received on Saturday a message from Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi conveyed by Iraqi National Security Adviser Faleh al-Fayad.
The message concentrated on the developments of relations between the two countries and the necessity of continuing coordination between them on all levels, particularly in regards to combating terrorism and the cooperation in this regards, especially along borders between the two states.
During the meeting, President al-Assad underlined that good relations with Iraq and the standing cooperation in the fight against terrorism have formed a powerful factor for both countries in their war against terrorism.
President al-Assad affirmed the importance of continuing this cooperation and coordination until eliminating the remaining of terrorist cells in some Syrian and Iraqi regions.
Viewpoints were also exchanged about the latest developments on the regional and international arenas.
President al-Assad stressed that the positive events witnessed in the region, particularly on the level of restoring security and stability in the majority of Syrian and Iraqi cities affirm that the will of people in the region in keeping sovereignty of their regions was more powerful than the external plots.
Al-Fayad, for his part, said that the success of the Iraqi people in confronting terrorism and the victories achieved by Syria and its capability of restoring security and defeating terrorism in the majority of its territories, the latest of which was the entry of the Syrian army to Manbij, are all good indications for the whole region.
Talks during the meeting dealt with bilateral relations between the two brotherly states and means of developing them in all domains in the interest of the Syrian and Iraqi people.
Syrian Army reinforcements pour into Manbij area to counteract Turkish troops
A large group of reinforcements from the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) made their way from Aleppo city to the outskirts of Manbij this afternoon, a military source told Al-Masdar News.
According to the military source, the Syrian Arab Army reinforcements were deployed to the northwestern outskirts of Manbij, where they were ordered to stand their ground against any potential Turkish aggression on the city.
The reinforcements were mostly comprised of soldiers from the Republican Guard units that were deployed in the northeastern part of Aleppo.
More reinforcements are expected to head to the outskirts of Manbij in the coming hours as they attempt to ward off the Turkish-backed rebels that are threatening to capture the city from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Syrian Army Highly on Alert to Counter Turkish Troops' Possible Operation in Manbij
The sources said that the Damascus forces, deployed in Manbji, are on alert to counter any attack by the Turkish soldiers and Ankara-backed militants.
The sources went on to say that the Army Command has ordered Presidential Guard Forces and other Damascus soldiers to give a crushing response to any military operation by the Ankara forces in Manbij region.
They further said that the Ankara forces have started preparing for a military operation in Manbij after the Syrian Army's arrival in the region.
The sources quoted Ziad Hajji Obeid, Commander of the militants of Turkey-backed National Army, as saying that a sum of 15,000 militants from his group have prepared to enter Manbij, adding that almost 25,000 gunmen of the Ankara-backed Free Army have been preparing to enter the towns of Tal Abyadh and Ra'as al-Ein.
Turkey deploys 50 tanks to border with Syria — TV
The Turkish General Staff has deployed about 50 tanks to the Syrian border amid the preparation for a new military operation in Syria, TV channel Haberturk reported on Saturday.
The tanks were deployed yesterday morning under the command of the 20th armored brigade in the city of Sanliurfa. The equipment was deployed from Hatay Province. It was reported that in the future military equipment will be located directly on the Syrian border.
During the last several weeks Ankara has been reinforcing garrisons and army units with armored and support vehicles and artillery weapons. It is linked to the preparation for a new military operation of Turkey in Syria in the Manbij area, which entered its active stage following US President Donald Trump's declaration of the upcoming withdrawal of the American forces from Syria. Manbij is one of the largest Kurdish centers in eastern Syria, and Ankara believes that Kurds should leave it and give the city to the Arab population of the country.
The Kurdish troops tried to refrain from direct confrontation with the Syrian government and did not support the opposition, demanding autonomy. The Kurds found themselves in isolation facing the threat of the Turkish invasion and addressed Damascus for help on Friday, suggesting that the army should occupy the regions in Manbij controlled by them. The Syrian General Staff reported on Friday that the government forces entered Manbij, but the Turkish side did not comment on this information.
On December 12, the Turkish president reported the intention to start an operation in the coming days against the Kurdish People’s Protection Units and the Democratic Union, which Ankara considers to be the Syrian branch of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River. Before that, Turkey already held two military operations on Syrian territory: Operation Euphrates Shield and Operation Olive Branch, as a result of which a buffer zone of security was created between the bordering cities of Azaz and Jarabulus, and the Afrin region, which is populated by Kurds, was occupied.
VIDEO: TURKEY CONTINUES TO DEPLOY BATTLE TANKS, OTHER MILITARY EQUIPMENT TO BORDER WITH SYRIA
As Syrian government forces continue to bargain with the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) and local YPG allies over the control of the northern Syrian town of Manbij [Syrian army troops have not entered the town yet], Turkey is deploying more and more military equipment on the border withthe country.
If the YPG and the Damascus government find no comprehensive political solution on the situation in Manbij, the situation may escalate rapidly in the Manbij countryside. Turkish-backed militant groups and the Turkish Army have concentrated a large force near the area and they are openly threatening to employ it against the YPG, which they concisder to be a terrorist group.
On December 29, a high-profile Turksih delegation is also visiting Moscow to negotiate on the situation in Syria.
Syria: Turkey Dispatches ISIL Terrorists to Manbij Outskirts
Xeber 24 news website, affiliated to the Kurdish militia, reported that a large number of ISIL and Tahrir al-Sham terrorists are accompanying Turkish army convoys deployed in Manbij region in Northern Syria.
It further said that the Turkish army had used the ISIL in the Afrin occupation operation as well.
The news website went on to say that the Turkish army forwarded a military convoy to Eastern Aleppo via Jarabulus border-crossing after arrival of the Syrian Army in Manbij.
Another military convoy of the Turkish Army has been dispatched to Ilbaili region in Kilis province at border with Syria.
In the meantime, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that Ankara is sending a growing number of forces to Manbij outskirts.
US-Backed SDF Sends Aid Convoy to ISIL Terrorists in Eastern Syria
The sources reported that a number of SDF vehicles, carrying food stuff, were sent to al-Sha'afah via al-Alalouni passageway in Eastern Deir Ezzur.
The sources pointed to a possible agreement between the SDF and the ISIL over sending the convoy in return for receiving a hefty amount of money by the Washington-backed militia.
In November, the Arabic-language al-Ma'aloumah news website quoted Ahamd al-Sahrifi, an Iraqi security expert, as disclosing that the US intended to heliborne ISIL terrorists from Syria-Iraq border to regions behind Iraqi forces' positions near border with Syria.
It further said that the US plan to heliborne ISIL to Iraq came after the Iraqi forces deployed at border with Syria and close off any infiltration by terrorists into Iraq.
Al-Sharifi further said that ISIL has not only been supported financially and militarily in the battlefield but also received logistic and diplomatic backup in regional and international arenas.
Watch: Kurdish women take part in battle against ISIS in Deir Ezzor
The Kurdish women of the People’s Protection Units (YPJ) have played an integral role in the battle against the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL/IS/Daesh), often providing necessary military support along the front-lines with the terrorist group.
During the battle for Hajin, the YPJ helped overwhelm the remaining Islamic State militants inside the town, paving the way for the complete capture of the area.
As shown in the short video below, the YPJ can be seen taking the battle to the remaining Islamic State terrorists that are still active in the Hajin area:
