Battle for Manbij: Turkish-backed forces launch push on key city
Syria says government troops entered Manbij, potentially setting up a direct confrontation with Ankara-led forces.
Oct. 14, 2019
Turkish-backed rebel Syrian forces have launched an operation to seize the strategic city of Manbij from Kurdish forces, as Ankara’s military offensive into northern Syria carves out a new front in the country’s years-long war.
Monday’s drive came as Syrian government troops started moving towards the country’s border with Turkey after Damascus forged an agreement with the Kurdish-spearheaded Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to fend off Ankara’s military push, in a Russia-brokered deal that once again reshaped alliances in Syria’s multilayered conflict
Read more at https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/battle-manbij
Erdogan signals Turkish operation to Syria’s Manbij
October 14, 2019
President Tayyip Erdogan signalled on Monday that Turkey aims to drive Kurdish-led fighters from the northern Syrian town of Manbij, after Syrian Kurdish officials struck a deal with the Syrian government to confront Ankara’s offensive, reports Reuters.
Earlier on Monday, Syrian army troops entered the town of Tel Tamer in northeastern Syria, according to state media. The Syrian Observatory later said that Syrian government forces had also deployed to Ain Issa in northern Syria, to the frontlines of territory where Turkey is mounting its offensive.
Read more at https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191014-erdogan-signals-turkish-operation-to-syrias-manbij/
Kremlin tells Turkey to ensure Syria operation is proportionate
October 14, 2019
The Kremlin complained on Monday that Turkey’s incursion into northern Syria was “not exactly” compatible with Syrian territorial integrity, and Ankara should ensure its actions were proportionate.
The Kremlin was commenting as Russia-backed Syrian forces deployed deep inside Kurdish-held territory south of the Turkish frontier, less than 24 hours after Washington announced a full withdrawal.
Read more at https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-security-turkey-kremlin
Syrian Kurds, Damascus Reach Deal in Russia-Backed Talks
October 13. 2019
Syrian ground troops are moving north to confront invading Turkish forces per a deal that was reached by the Kurdish SDF and the Assad government, in talks brokered by Russia and held on a Russian air base.
The deal sees the Kurds unilaterally handing over two important cities, Kobane and Manbij, both in the Aleppo Province, to the central government to rule. This means Turkey’s invasion of those cities would be a direct invasion of Syrian cities under government control. Those two cities are also where Syria’s Army is heading first. This would make Turkey attacking those cities more controversial, and also raises the possibility of Russia intervening on the government’s behalf.
Read more at https://news.antiwar.com/2019/10/13/syrian-kurds-damascus-reach-deal-in-russia-backed-talks/
‘Fully prepared to destroy economy’: Trump sanctions Turkish officials, raises steel tariffs & stops $100bn trade deal
14 Oct, 2019
Accusing Turkey of endangering civilians and threatening peace and security with its Syrian operation, US President Donald Trump has announced upcoming tariffs and sanctions against Turkish officials and economy.
“Turkey’s action is precipitating a humanitarian crisis and setting conditions for possible war crimes,” Trump said on Monday, announcing the upcoming measures against Ankara.
In addition to an executive order sanctioning current and former officials involved in “destabilizing actions in northeast Syria,” Trump said he would raise tariffs on Turkish steel to 50 percent, and immediately stop the negotiations over a trade deal valued at $100 billion.
Read more at https://www.rt.com/news/470928-trump-turkey-sanctions-tarriffs/
