The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

A delegation of the International Coalition visits Tal Abyad Military Council and the Autonomous Administration north-east of Syria to discuss the mechanism of implementation of the second stage of the safe zone agreement east of the Euphrates

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned that a delegation of the International Coalition and the spokesperson of the Joint Task Force –  Operation Inherent Resolve which is affiliated to the International Coalition and led by the United States, visited today morning the headquarters of Tal Abyad Military Council, the Autonomous Administration, the Civil Council and the command of the Internal Security Forces in Tal Abyad city north of Al-Hasakah, and in the details obtained by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights; they discussed the second stage of the mechanism of coordination concerning the safe zone north-east of Syria, and the delegation thanked Tal Abyad Military Council which is loyal to the SDF for its cooperation in withdrawing from the Syrian – Turkish border west of Al-Hasakah, and with reference to the ongoing Turkish threats about the area of east Euphrates, the delegation asserted that they are continuing their work despite these threats.

And the SOHR monitored on the 4th of September 2019, that it monitored a joint patrol of American Forces and the military council in Ras al-Ayn (Sri Kaneh) city, consists of 4 armored American vehicles and 3 vehicles of Ras al-Ayn Military Council, it started from the base of the International Coalition in Tal Arqam village of Halaf town, then the vehicles headed to the hill of t Abu Jaradah village and then towards the border line adjacent to Ras al-Ayn area, it also reached Makhatla village west of Ras al-Ayn (Sri Kaneh) city, and the patrol headed towards Khirbet al-Banat village, Tal Khanzir, and Mabrouka, and this comes after the implementation of the border security agreement and the withdrawal of YPG, YPJ, and SDF with their weapons from the border, according to what was agreed upon between the United States and Turkey about the safe area east of Euphrates.

The Syrian Observatory published on the 22th of August 2019 that Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned from reliable sources that preparations are underway in the north-east of Syria for implementing the agreement of the safe zone, and in the details obtained by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights; the Syria Democratic Forces stopped digging trenches and lifting dirt barricades 3 days ago in the vicinity of Ras Al-Ayn north-west of Al-Hasakah at the Syrian – Turkish border, in preparation for establishing the safe zone according to what had been agreed upon between Turks and the Americans, also the columns of vehicles which had been sent from Al-Raqqah to Tal Abyad area at the border with Turkey, returned to the place where they had come from, simultaneously, the SOHR learned that military patrols of the International Coalition launched from Tal Arqam towards Mabrukah passing by Sluk and Tal Abyad at the Syrian – Turkish border.

And the SOHR published on the 20 July 2019, that large military mobilizations of the Turkish forces and factions loyal to them have arrived in the north-western outskirts of Manbij city in the north-eastern countryside of Aleppo, the Syrian Observatory has received information about Turkey’s intention to start a wide-spread military action with their loyal factions, to storm Manbij city which is under the control of the Kurdish forces on the 20th of July 2019, and in connection with this, the SOHR monitored the arrival of large military reinforcements of the Syria Democratic Forces heavily armed by heavy machineguns, coming from the areas of Ayn Issa, Al-Raqqah province and Kobani to Tal Abyad city at the border with Turkey, in the shadow of the information about the Turks’ intention to advance towards the city.

And the SOHR published on the 19th of July 2019, that areas located on the Syrian – Turkish border within the east Euphrates area are witnessing relative calm, amid Turkish reinforcements and mobilizations on the Turkish side through bringing tanks to the border strip areas such as Tal Abyad, Ras Al Ain and Ayn al-Arab (Kobani), while the sky of the area is witnessing daily flight of reconnaissance drones for the U.S. Forces, and the Syrian Observatory published on the 13th of July 2019, that the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned from reliable sources that the Turkish Intelligence intends to hold training courses for Syrian fighters loyal to Turkey on the Turkish territory, and in the details obtained by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights; the Turkish Intelligence asked factions operating within “Olive Branch and Euphrates Shield” to be prepared and get their fighters ready for starting 20-day training courses in camps on the Turkish territory, and the training includes the development of using developed and anti-tank weapons, and the Turkish Intelligence insisted on the necessity of the presence of the old fighters who have undergone previous courses whether on the Turkish territory during earlier operations such as “Olive Branch and Euphrates Shield”, or fighters who have undergone courses that held at that time, in Arab countries such as the preparations for battles against the regime forces, and Turkey had trained hundreds of members of the police and security services in the areas of the “Olive Branch and Euphrates Shield”, inside its camps, and graduated several batches affiliated to the police bodies, while these preparations apparently come as a Turkish preparation for carrying out a new military operation inside the Syrian territory, and as usual, the aim is the controlled areas of the Syria Democratic Forces and this time it (the military operation) will be in the Euphrates and Al-Jazeera.