“The terrorists in Manbij should be removed from the area, otherwise Turkey will not hesitate to take initiative by itself”
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- 6th Displaced Group from East Ghouta Arrives in Syria’s Northwest
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Pressing ahead after its capture of the Kurdish canton of Afrin in northwest Syria, Turkey says it will remove the US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces from the city of Manbij in eastern Aleppo Province.
Ankara wants to push the leading element in the SDF, the Kurdish militia YPG — which it considers part of the Turkish Kurdish insurgency PKK — east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria.
The SDF took Manbij, about 90 km (56 miles) from Aleppo city, from the Islamic State in July 2016.
Turkey’s National Security Council, chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, issued its declaration on Wednesday: “In the meeting, it is stated that the terrorists in Manbij should be removed from the area, otherwise Turkey will not hesitate to take initiative by itself as it did in other regions.”
Turkish officials say they will meet American counterparts on Friday to review the situation.
So far the US military has signalled that it will continue backing for the SDF in Manbij. Last month, the top US general in the anti-ISIS coalition, Lt. Gen. Paul Funk, visited the sity and said, “We’re here to ensure the lasting defeat of ISIS is maintained in this area.”
Turkey’s NSC also said it expects the government of neighboring Iraq to prevent the PKK from operating in the north of the country, especially in the towns of Sinjar and Qandil. The Council threatened bombing of PKK positions, “If it is not possible, Turkey will prevent them by itself.”
On Tuesday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi told Erdoğan that Iraqi armed forces will block the PKK, which has battled Turkish security forces for more than 30 years, from staging cross-border attacks.
6th Displaced Group from East Ghouta Arrives in Syria’s Northwest
The sixth group of people forcibly displaced from East Ghouta by the pro-Assad offensive has arrived in northwest Syria:
The arrival of the sixth batch of forcibly displaced civilians from #EasternGhouta, late at night. Number reached about 60 bus, carrying nearly 5 thousand people. @SyriaCivilDefe teams are helping with equip temporary shelters, providing services. pic.twitter.com/cFhHNPxKVa
— The White Helmets (@SyriaCivilDef) March 29, 2018
Muhammad Najem — the 15-year-old who used social media to inform the world about the pro-Assad assault on East Ghouta — is now in Ma’arat al-Num’an in Idlib Province.
A sign in Idlib Province: “Our families from Ghouta: you are welcome to take as you please — fruits and vegetables. To all families from Ghouta: we are honored by you.”
Video: Displaced 5 Times in 15 Months — A Mother Speaks
Marwa Taleb tells Al Jazeera of how she, her husband, and her baby have been displaced five times since they were removed from eastern Aleppo city in December 2016:
This couple has been displaced 5 times since the #war started in #Syria. pic.twitter.com/1nLscsbtOK
— Mohamad Abazeed (@AbazidMohamad) March 29, 2018
fuck erdogan
Erdodog is a savage.
I would not be surprised if Erdogon hands Afrin over to the Idlib HTS and their cohorts – by doing a fake ‘pullout’ of Afrin or northern Aleppo. That will just confirm what everyone knows that Erdogon is in cahoots with Al Qaeda and ISIS. Watch out now for HTS attacking the FSA in Afrin – or the FSA joining HTS, and Turkey turning a blind eye to that. He would then succeed in his project to create a mini-Islamic Republic of Syria beholden to his caliphacy and to his Islamist mukhaberati gangs.
“03/29: Several representatives of the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria had a meeting with President of France @EmmanuelMacron in Paris. There are several reports that France plans to send troops to Manbij and to SDF-held areas at the Euphrates river soon” — This should put an end to Erdochicken’s dreams – he can only attack the weak Kurds and grab their lands, while too chicken to confront Assad and Russia. He will be forced to hand over Afrin to Assad soon, and go to Moscow again and apologize to Putin. Has Meokur stopped supporting Erdogon?
I think turkey Erdogan, all to easily looses reality. Time to remind them of it!
Sure. Let the neocons give him a master class in reality.
Neocons? Where, what, when? LMAO
Erdogan is the terrorist. Using Nazi methods.
Erdogan is the terrorist.
No more a terrorist than his paymasters in Washington
Hey Andre – what do you know of Hunter Douglas? Would you recommend this?