PKK extorts money from Manbij locals in fear of looming Turkish op

Talk of a possible military operation launched by Turkey in Syria’s Manbij has spread fear among the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Turkey will "do whatever is necessary" regarding Syria's northern city of Manbij, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Friday.

"They [the U.S.] promised us. They said: 'We will leave here in 90 days'. They did not leave. Whatever is necessary will be done," Erdoğan said.

Within the context of the Manbij roadmap, which was agreed upon between Turkey and the U.S. in June this year, PKK/YPG terrorist forces were set to desert the region within a 90-day period.

The head of one of Manbij’s most important tribes, Abdulkerim al-Fahhel, told Yeni Şafak daily in an exclusive interview that news of the operation had caused distress among the terror group.

“They [PKK] are aware that they will not be able to survive here. The struggling people of Manbij await Turkey. We know where the tunnels are and how long they are. We share all this information with Turkish officials.”

Turkey pledges to launch a military operation against YPG/PKK in the strategically important city of Manbij that lies west of the Euphrates River in northern Syria, as part of Operation Olive Branch. Manbij lies northeast of Aleppo, just south of the Turkish border.

“Regardless of how many tunnels are dug, they [PKK] will be cleared from Manbij as they were cleared from Afrin. The people of Afrin showed [Turkish] soldiers where the tunnels were, and the same will happen in Manbij. We don’t just want the PKK gone, we also want the U.S. kicked out. The U.S. always lies and supports the PKK. The U.S. will lose alongside the PKK in Manbij,” al-Fahhel said.

Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch on Jan. 20, 2018 in Syria’s northwestern region of Afrin to eradicate the area of terrorists belonging to the PKK/PYD.

“The PKK/PYD has started to collect a year’s worth of taxes in Manbij. They know they will withdraw from the region. That’s why they’re taking 100,000 Syrian pounds from everyone. We’re meeting with all tribe leaders and local council heads. The people of Manbij are in a tough situation because the PKK is extorting money,” al-Fahhel said.

“The PKK demolished the homes of three people who support Turkey three days ago. The victims took refuge in the Jarabulus region. The public has been waiting for Turkey to come for a long time,” al-Fahhel said.

The PYD and its military YPG wing are Syrian branches of the PKK, which has waged war against Turkey for more than 30 years.