PKK/PYD operates under US, Russian flags in Manbij against Turkey

The Kurdistan Workers' Party /Democratic Union Party PKK/PYD units are preparing to leave Syria's northern city of Manbij to the Bashar al-Assad regime in a calculated move against Turkey. Turkish armed forces are preparing to launch an offensive in Manbij against PKK/PYD elements in the town after clearing al-Bab of Daesh terrorists as a part of the ongoing Euphrates Shield operation.

The PKK/PYD terrorists, who were seen carrying U.S. flags, were also recently seen carrying Russian flags. Conducting violent operations while flying the flags of the two countries would appear to show their tacit support for PKK/PYD terrorists in Syria.

Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend reiterated the U.S. support for terrorists by stating that PKK/PYD is ready to go to war.

Townsend also said that Turkish Armed Forces should be careful not to interrupt the planned Raqqa operation against Daesh.

The fall of Raqqa, Daesh's de facto capital and largest remaining stronghold, would be the biggest defeat for the terrorists in Syria since they captured the northern city on the banks of the Euphrates River in January 2014.

President Donald Trump has vowed to "obliterate" the group. "We will work with our allies, including our friends and allies in the Muslim world, to extinguish this vile enemy from our planet," he told Congress on Tuesday.

However, the details of Trump's anti-Daesh strategy will be revealed soon.

Meanwhile, Turkey expressed its determination to clear PKK/PYD from Syria's Manbij in a recent statement from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who said that Turkey's next move in Syria will be taking the Syrian cities of Manbij and Raqqa.

Ankara has also expressed its frustrations regarding U.S. support of the PYD, which is a large faction of the Syrian Defense Force (SDF), all of which fight against Daesh.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and EU. Since Turkey considers the PYD to be a PKK affiliate, Ankara says Washington should not cooperate with it.

A U.S. military officer was previously revealed giving the YPG and SDF a weapons shipment and talking about the upcoming Raqqa operation to oust Daesh from the city.

During his visit, the U.S., YPG and SDF all agreed to concentrate on Manbij, where Turkish military-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters are set to conduct an operation to drive the PYD from the town.