The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Warplanes of the International Coalition fly over Manbij after partial withdrawal by the regime forces from the contact lines and the news about the overflight of Turkish warplanes over the area is completely false

Aleppo Province – The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned that the news about the overflight of warplanes affiliated the Turkish Air Force in the air space of Manbij area in the north-eastern sector of Aleppo countryside is false, where the warplanes that are flying over the area, are warplanes affiliated to the International Coalition where they have been continuing to fly over Mabij since early morning, and the Syrian Observatory published hours ago, that it learned that the regime forces which were deployed on Friday morning, on the contact lines in the northern and western countryside of Manbij, between the forces of Manbij Military Council and Jaysh al-Thowwar on one hand, and between the Turkish forces and the Syrian factions loyal to them on the other, have completed their withdrawal from the northern and north-western areas of Manbij countryside, where they are now only present in the western countryside of Manbij specifically in Arima area and other areas to its west and north-west, so that there will be no frictions between them (the regime forces) and between the American patrols in the area, which are still conducting patrols in Manbij countryside, despite the Turkish threats of carrying out a military operation in the area, and the withdrawal process in the past 24 hours was coincided with targeting by Turkish-backed factions with medium and heavy machineguns, to positions of the forces of Manbij Military Council operating under the banner of the Syria Democratic Forces in the area of Sajur in Manbij area north-east of Aleppo, without information so far about human losses, also the SOHR learned that factions operate under Turkey’s command temporarily suspended their mobilizations in the vicinity of Manbij area, in conjunction with the withdrawal of members of the factions to their earlier positions –before the announcement about alertness and mobilizations there.

The Syrian Observatory published hours ago, that trusted sources confirmed to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights that the news about Syria Democratic Forces handing over Teshreen Dam on Euphrates River near Manbij city to the regime forces is false. The reliable sources confirmed that the dam area near Manbij witnessed this morning the graduation of a batch of the self-defense forces of the Syria Democratic Forces, and this rumor comes about 48 hours after the deployment of the regime forces on contact lines between areas of presence of Turkish Forces and the factions loyal to them, and between the forces of the Manbij Military Council and Jaysh al-Thowwar, in the northern and western countryside of Manbij, and the Syrian Observatory published this morning that the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored the military forces on both sides of the Sajur line, continue to take their precautions and measures of the outbreak of a military operation at any time, where the Turkish Forces and their loyal factions continue to be deployed in the areas of control of the “Euphrates Shield” Operation forces in the northeastern sector of Aleppo Province, in conjunction with the continued deployment of the forces of Manbij Military Council and Jaysh al-Thowwar on the opposite side, and the regime forces separate between them since the morning of Friday, the 28th of December 2018, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned that the Turkish forces and factions loyal to them have divided Manbij front to 3 major sectors; the first of which stretches from al-Sekkariyyeh area to the dam area, in which fighters of al-Hamzat Division are positioned, the second sector is the Arima area and the entrance of Manbij city led by Sultan Murad, while the northeastern section is led by Ahrar al-Sharqiyyah Forces and extends from Qiratah village to the dam area along Euphrates River, provided that these factions should not enter Manbij city, and this dividing come in conjunction with what was confirmed by the reliable sources to the Syrian Observatory, that the factions cannot carry out any attack without Turkish commands and full Turkish support, and that any faction that deliberately contravenes the orders will be held accountable by the Turkish Forces, in conjunction with the continued presence of the US Forces in the area and running patrols by them and by the International Coalition in Manbij and its surroundings, also this came after the entry of tens of trucks coming from Kurdistan Region of Iraq, to areas in the Syrian interior within the area of the east of the Euphrates, and in the details obtained by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights; the recent hours of today, Saturday the 29th of December 2018, witnessed the entry of about 200 trucks loaded with weapons, ammunition and other logistic equipment, to the International Coalition military bases in Al-Raqqah, Manbij and Ayn Issa, and this is the second convoy to be entered the east Euphrates, after the US decision on the 19th of December 2018, to withdraw its forces from the area, and this action is coincided with the talks that are underway among the circles of the American administration about withdrawing the weapons or keeping them in the Syria Democratic Forces’ possession.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published yesterday that the sounds of gunfire was heard in the area of Manbij countryside, in two successive rounds, intersected sources said that they were caused due to gunfire by factions loyal to Turkey, that targeted the areas where the regime forces have been deployed and the controlled areas of Manbij Military Council, in Manbij countryside, with heavy and medium machineguns, without information about resulting in fall of human losses, and this is the first targeting after the deployment of the regime forces yesterday, Friday the 28th of December 2018, on the contact areas between the forces of Manbij Military Council and Jaysh al-Thowwar on one hand, and the Turkish forces and Islamic and rebel factions loyal to it on the other, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published hours ago, that the cautious calm continues to impose itself on Manbij city, which is still controlled by the forces of Manbij Military Council and Jaysh al-Thowwar forces, within the northeastern sector of Aleppo Province, on the west bank of Euphrates River, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned that the cautious calm is accompanied by a continuous increased readiness by both Manbij Military Council and the Jaysh al-Thowwar, and between the Turkish Forces and the rebel and Islamic factions, separated by the regime forces who were deployed on the contact lines between them in the northern and western countryside of Manbij, while the US Forces are still present in the city and its surroundings, and running patrols as usual in the area, while the Syrian Observatory published on Saturday morning that the situation in Manbij city is still the same, 24 hours after the regime forces were deployed on the contact lines between Manbij Military Council and Jaysh al-Thowwar, and between the Turkish Forces and the rebel and Islamic factions in the northern and western countryside of Manbij, the Syrian Observatory learned that the presence of the International Coalition in the Manbij city and its surroundings and its continued patrols in the area; are impeding the entry of the regime forces into the city, where the Turkish leadership informed the leaders of Syrian factions loyal to them in the Syrian north and on the contact lines with Manbij, that they are waiting the decision of the Turkish leadership after the meeting of Moscow today, to determine the fate of Manbij process, whether to be launched or stopped completely, and this was accompanied with sending more military forces by the Turkish Forces and their loyal factions to the area.