Nearly 13,000 FSA fighters amass across the border from Syria’s Manbij

Close to 13,000 Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters, who arrived from the Afrin and the Euphrates Shield regions, have amassed at the front as the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) complete their preparations for the third cross-border Turkey-led operation east of the Euphrates River against terrorists from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)’s Syria affiliate, the PYD.

FSA troops arrived from the cities of Afrin, Azaz, Jarabulus, al-Bab and Marea ahead of the imminent operation near Manbij.

Speaking exclusively to Yeni Şafak daily, FSA spokesman Lieutenant Youssef Hamoud said the plan put forward by Turkey includes advancing on Manbij across the border, together “with our Turkish brothers.”

Hamoud noted that FSA troops are awaiting orders from Turkey to enter the region.

“Our target is to reestablish justice and security in the 5,000-square-kilometer region that encompasses Manbij after the area is cleared from terrorists,” Hamoud said.

“Two thirds of PKK terrorists in Manbij have already fled the first and second lines of defense as they watched their commanders flee.”

With U.S. Special Representative Brett McGurk gone, the PKK finds itself disoriented and in shock, pointed Hamoud.

A pincer operation has already started in order to clear Manbij from PKK terrorists.

Turkey, having temporarily postponed its military operation east of the Euphrates River in Syria, has given the green light for the city of Manbij, which is located in the west. More than 8,000 Turkish soldiers and Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters were deployed to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)-occupied region on Saturday night.

In total, a 200-vehicle Turkish convoy, which was composed of various units, set out from Karkamış to Jarablus and from Kilis to Azaz simultaneously. In addition to the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF), a 60-vehicle FSA convoy was sent to the border line.

While an army corps linked to the FSA waits at the ready, 2,000 special forces, who participated in Turkey’s Olive Branch and Euphrates Shield operations, reached the Manbij countryside.

During the deployment and in the following hours, Turkish war planes and unmanned and armed aerial vehicles established an air shield in the zone.

Forces were deployed to points such as Sajir, Kirata, Avn Dadad and Bulduk. FSA commanders stated that all preparations for the operation have been complete, and that they are looking forward to liberating Manbij from terror occupation, starting from the north and south.

The first target of the forces, who are located about 12 kilometers from Manbij, is to severe the PKK’s link to the Assad regime from the south and to cut contact between Aleppo and Tell Rifaat. The PKK, who is a grave panic, launched harassment fire from Tell Rifaat on Sunday. They also transferred some of the civilians they have imprisoned in the Manbij Hospital to Ayn Isa.

Turkey has repeatedly voiced frustration over what it says is the slow implementation of a deal with Washington to pull YPG fighters out of Manbij, a town in mainly Arab territory west of the Euphrates.

The deployment comes after Trump made the surprise announcement that the U.S. would withdraw its troops from Syria, following an Oct. 14 phone call with Erdoğan in which the two leaders agreed on the need for more effective coordination over the war-torn country.

A possible mission east of the Euphrates, which Turkey’s leadership has been suggesting for months, would follow two successful cross-border Turkish operations into Syria since 2016 – Operation Euphrates Shield and Operation Olive Branch – both meant to eradicate the presence of YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists near Turkey’s borders.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. The YPG is its Syrian extension.