Turkey sends military reinforcements to Syria border

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Europe

01:35

Turkey has sent reinforcements to the border with Syria, Turkish media reported on Monday, after Washington ordered the withdrawal of its ground forces from the war-ravaged nation.

A Turkish military convoy with howitzers and artillery batteries as well as different units of the armed forces was deployed to the border district of Elbeyli in Kilis Province, state news agency Anadolu reported. The military reinforcements would take place "gradually," the private IHA news agency reported, adding that parts of the convoy had entered Syria.

The deployment began over the weekend with around 100 vehicles, Hurriyet daily said, which had crossed into the Al-Bab region of northern Syria. They were headed towards Jarabulus and Manbij which is held by a U.S.-backed Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia viewed by Ankara as "terrorists" linked to Kurdish insurgents inside Turkey.

U.S. forces, accompanied by Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) fighters, drive their armored vehicles near the northern Syrian village of Darbasiyah, April 28, 2017. /VCG Photo

Turkey was a rare ally that lauded Trump's decision on Syria, since it will now have a freer rein to target Kurdish fighters in the country's north who were armed and trained by the U.S. and played a major role in the war against ISIL.

Jarabulus and Al-Bab were areas captured from ISIL during Ankara's first military operation in August 2016 which lasted until March 2017.

U.S. President Donald Trump stunned the U.S. political establishment and allies last week when he decided to pull 2,000 troops from Syria just days after his Turkish counterpart warned Ankara would soon launch a new operation in the country's north.

Turkey conducted a second offensive with Syrian rebels against the YPG militia in its northwestern enclave of Afrin in January this year. The operation ended in March with the capture of the city.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Ankara would launch a third operation against the YPG and the last remaining elements of ISIL in Syria in the coming months.

U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) talk at the start of the NATO summit in Brussels, Belgium, July 11, 2018. /VCG Photo

Turkish-backed rebels reinforce front around Manbij

Meanwhile, Turkish-backed Syrian forces have reinforced the area around the town of Manbij, a rebel spokesman said on Monday, as they prepare for the withdrawal of U.S. troops.

The heightened military activity comes as Ankara and Washington have agreed to coordinate on the U.S. withdrawal.

"Yesterday units from the Syrian National Army headed towards the Manbij front and took preliminary positions (in preparation) for the battle," said Major Youssef Hamoud, the spokesman for the National Army, the main Turkey-backed rebel force in the area. The group is aimed at unifying disparate factions in northwest Syria.

Heavy armed land and armored vehicles belonging to Hamza division affiliated with Free Syrian Army (part of the Turkey-backed Syrian National Army) are being dispatched from Azez to the front lines in Manbij, Syria, December 24, 2018. /VCG Photo

Manbij has been a major flashpoint between Ankara and Washington. In June, the NATO allies reached an agreement that would see the YPG ousted from the town but Turkey has said the deal has been delayed.

Erdogan said on December 14 that Turkish forces would enter the town if the United States does not remove the Kurdish fighters.

U.S. forces still remain in Manbij, and the Turkey-backed fighters will not advance until they withdraw, Hamoud told Reuters.

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters