Thursday, March 2, 2017

Manbij Conjuncture- Russia Makes a Deal

US-backed Kurdish forces agree to hand over key area to Syrian government

I 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.
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.
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 official


A 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.. 
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10 comments:

  1. Turkish spokesman Cavusoglu:

    "...“This is not US soil. Why would we come head-to-head with US soldiers?”

    lol...it's not Turkish soil either. Why would either of these foreign troops be in Syria uninvited (as the Russians are)?

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    1. Your right GC- It's not Kurdish soil either and yet there they all are.


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    2. that deal probably has something to do with this:

      Plan submitted to U.S. administration envisages establishment of 1st 'safe zone' in Syria's western part

      Should go over well with Assad who has declared repeatedly total victory. Notaby this is the 1st...when does the Golan zone get declared especially with Assad forces moving on the buffer zone promoting the Israeli shelling rather strike?

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    3. In the territory annexed by the PKK/YPG?

      I would assume such but will look into the news on that- If that is the case I'm totally unsurprised

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  2. No, the Kurdish soil...nor is it these guys soil:

    https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/idlib-province-descends-chaos-inter-jihadist-war-intensifies/

    ...but there they are...squabbling amongst themselves on it.

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    Replies

    1. The violence in Idlib is orchestrated by Turkey, meant to weaken jihadists, so Assad easily can take over the province.

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    2. Sort of like Aleppo act2
      That worked so here is hoping it's successful again

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  3. Everytime YPG/PKK flies the US flag ppl scramble to claim the US isn't doing it but YPG going rogue.
    Reason is that it is a direct threat to Turkey, and shows how far they will go to protect the PKK. It is US SOF doing it, & it is shocking really.

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    1. Yup that's why I questioned the claims of the flags being flown as a ruse.

      This is not the first time the US flag has been flown and the US does this whole- oh we didn't know- we'll look into it etc and it's just not believable

      Especially when one considers the embedded forces/US and otherwise- why not fly their flags and tell Turkey/ yup were here and what are you going to do about it- it's very arrogant and very american

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    2. Today there were even more pics & vids of US SOF driving around Manbij, whith their flags. This is an open IS threat to Turkey. FSA fought the SDF in villeges near Manbij, but experts on twitter analysing the photos of the dead, said they were killed in the manner of US SOF.
      The entire thing made me sick to my stomach.
      The way Turkey has been stabbed in the back and betrayed by the US, is shocking! I'm not a Turk, but I feelt heartbroken.

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