Syria’s military says it has entered key Kurdish-held Manbij; US, Turkish troops deny claim
- Since the US announcement that it was withdrawing troops, forces have been building up around Manbij and further east, ushering in new alliances
- The Kurds would rather let Syria’s Russian- and Iranian-backed government fill the void left by the Americans than face being overwhelmed by Turkey
Syria’s military said Friday that it had entered the key Kurdish-held town of Manbij in an apparent deal with the Kurds, who are looking for new allies and protection against a threatened Turkish offensive as US troops prepare to leave Syria.
Turkey and American troops patrolling the town denied there was any change of forces in the contested area, contradicting the Syrians and highlighting the potential for chaos in the wake of last week’s surprise pronouncement by US President Donald Trump that he was withdrawing troops.
Since the US announcement, forces have been building up around Manbij and further east, ushering in new alliances and raising the chances for friction.
The Kurds’ invitation to Syrian troops shows they would rather let Syria’s Russian- and Iranian-backed government fill the void left by the Americans than face the prospect of being overwhelmed by their top rival Turkey.
Meanwhile, a flurry of meetings is expected in the coming days as all sides of the conflict scramble to find ways to replace the departing US troops.
They include one Saturday in Moscow, where Russia will host top Turkish officials in a possible sign that the two sides could be working on a deal to avert a Turkish offensive into Syria.