US-backed Kurdish forces agree to hand over key area to Syrian governmentI do not believe the PKK/YPG made this deal to protect civilians. It’s far more likely the airstrikes that occured on Monday and the casualties they took fighting were the impetus for the deal.. Perhaps the Kurdish terror clan isn’t such an effective fighting force when the US hasn’t dropped a pile of bombs (softening) on the locale first? I also question the claims of the Kurds flying the flags ONLY as a ruse entirely- It is well known US, British special forces operate amongst the PKK/YPG. Along with mercenaries..
A US-backed military council in Manbij said on Thursday it will hand over areas west of the flashpoint town to Syrian government troops, after an agreement brokered by Russia, as armoured personnel carriers flying the US flag were seen moving into areas north of the town.The reports came after sustained clashes between the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Turkey-backed Free Syria Army rebels.
Following news of the deal between the SDF - mainly made up of the US-backed Democractic Union Party (PYD) and its armed wing the Peoples' Protection Units (YPG) - and the Syrian government, Turkey's foreign minister threatened further military action.
"If the YPG does not vacate Manbij we will strike," Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters on Thursday morning.
“We don’t want the US to continue cooperating with a terrorist organisation that targets us,” he went on.
“The US has to immediately rectify its error. Conducting such operations with the YPG is putting Syria’s future at risk.
“This is not US soil. Why would we come head-to-head with US soldiers?”
Looking for more context for above quotes..
It was not immediately clear whether the military vehicles flying the US flag were US troops, or SDF forces using the US flag to prevent attacks by Turkey-backed forces.
ABD Ordusu Münbiç'te ➤ https://t.co/2JhfmhiQ0Q pic.twitter.com/TbQZs1iah9— CNN Türk (@cnnturk) March 2, 2017
The SDF has caused controversy in the past by flying the US flag over their positions to deter attacks by Turkish forces.
The reported troop movements came as the Manbij Military Council, which is part of the SDF, reached an agreement with Russia to leave the defence of areas west of the town to Syrian government troops.
The SDF announced that that the agreement to leave the defence of areas west of Manbij to the Syrian army had been reached in hopes of protecting civilians.
BREAKING: Manbij MC reaches agreement w/ Russia to transfer areas of W. #Manbij to gov. forces - @KomNewsCom https://t.co/S55dQGRc1H— Conflict News (@Conflicts) March 2, 2017
Clashes had broken out on Wednesday between Turkish-backed rebels from the Free Syria Army (FSA) and members of the largely Kurdish SDF.
The fighting broke out just west of the strategic northern town of Manbij, close to the Turkish border.
Manbij villages will be handed to Syria government in coming days - local officialA road sign that shows the direction to Manbij city is seen in the northern Syrian town of al-Bab, Syria March 1, 2017. Picture taken March 1, 2017. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
Villages controlled by the Manbij Military Council will be handed to the Syrian government in the coming days under a deal agreed with Russia, an official from the council said on Thursday.
This area has been in flux for a couple of days now..