After the withdrawal of hundreds of the factions, the regime, and SDF, US Forces continue run patrols in Manbij and fly over it with anticipation of full stability
Aleppo province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored the continuation of anticipation in Manbij area, for the situations to be completely stable in it, after the simultaneous withdrawal of forces of conflict, where reliable sources confirmed to the Syrian Observatory that the US Forces continue to run military patrols in Manbij area, while the regime forces continue to spread along the contact lines west of Manbij, between areas of control of Jaysh al-Thowwar and Manbij Military Council, and between the Turkish Forces and the rebel and Islamic factions loyal to them, amid continuous flight for warplanes of the International Coalition over Manbij area, and sometimes the pro-Turkey fighters of the “Euphrates Shield” Operation shoot on areas of presence of the forces controlling Manbij,
This anticipation comes after the withdrawal of the pro-Turkish forces for hundreds of members, pulling the regime forces for their members from the northern outskirts of Manbij, and the withdrawal of tens of opposition members of the Syria Democratic Forces, while the Syrian Observatory monitored yesterday that the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored cross-fire with medium and heavy machineguns between Turkish-backed factions on one hand, and Manbij Military Council which operates under the banner of the Syria Democratic Forces on the other, in the areas of Arab Hassan and Al-Mohsenli in the countryside of Manbij city in the north-eastern countryside of Aleppo, without information about human losses, in a scene that became usual and repeated recently, while the Syrian Observatory published today morning, Thursday, that it monitored a cautious calm in Manbij area and its vicinity, at the northeastern sector of Aleppo Province in the west of Euphrates River, this continued calm comes after the simultaneous withdrawal of hundreds of pro-Turkish fighters and tens of Syria Democratic Forces fighters away of Manbij, where reliable sources confirmed that after the withdrawal the area witnessed a cautious calm between the Turkish Forces and factions loyal to them, and between the forces of the Manbij Military Council and Jaysh al-Thowwar, amid cautious anticipation of the field developments in the coming days, while the Syrian Observatory published yesterday that the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights obtained information from several reliable sources that fighters of the Syria Democratic Forces withdrew from Manbij area towards the east of Euphrates River area, and in details obtained by the Syrian Observatory: about 250 fighters of the Syria Democratic Forces in Manbij city and its villages have withdrawn on board of vehicles to the eastern side of Euphrates River, while hundreds of fighters of Manbij Military Council, Jaysh al-Thowwar, and other factions of the Syria Democratic Forces are still in the area with security forces, and it is not known whether this withdrawal came within the framework of the Russian – Turkish consensus or not, while this withdrawal followed the withdrawal of hundreds of fighters from the pro-Turkey factions to areas in the vicinity of Manbij countryside area, after they were withdrawn from areas of their presence in the vicinity of the clash fronts and then transferred to barracks In the area.
The Syrian Observatory published hours ago that the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights obtained information from several reliable sources on the developments in Manbij area and the northeastern countryside of Aleppo, and in the details obtained by the Syrian Observatory: the pro-Turkish the rebel and Islamic factions withdrew all the members they brought from areas of “Euphrates Shield” and “Olive Branch” in the Syrian north, which is extending from the west of Euphrates to the borders of Iskenderun, and the sources confirmed to the Syrian Observatory that withdrawing the support that recently came to the vicinity of Manbij area; took place through transferring fighters to barracks in the vicinity of Manbij countryside in the northeastern sector of Aleppo countryside, where they were secured in barracks which are schools converted to military headquarters of the al-Jaysh al-Watani (The National Army) loyal to Turkey and supported by it, while reliable sources confirmed to the Syrian Observatory that the situation on the contact lines between the Turkish Forces and the factions loyal to them; and between the forces of Manbij Military Council and Jaysh al-Thowwar, have returned to what they used to be before the announcement of alert by Turkey to launch a military operation against Manbij area.
Reliable Egyptian sources and reliable sources of the Syria Democratic Forces denied the information published in Arab and regional media, about an Egyptian-Gulf role in the east of Euphrates crisis and, and the threats in the area of a Turkish military operation that has been talked about for weeks, and in the details obtained by the Syrian Observatory: reliable Egyptian sources and reliable sources from the Syria Democratic Forces confirmed to the Syrian Observatory that what was published in the Qatari and Turkish media -quoting Israeli media- is completely false, and that there are no steps towards what the media mentioned, as the media reported that Egyptian officers and other Emiratis officers have visited Manbij city and conducted a reconnaissance tour in the area; in a prelude to deploying Egyptian-Emirati forces in the area with an American air cover, replacing the US Forces, for whom the US President issued on the 19th of December 2018 the decision to withdraw them from the area, and that the presence of these forces will pave the way for a wider Arab military presence in terms of the presence of other Gulf countries, such as the Saudi Arabia, to confront the Iranian presence.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published 2 days ago that 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 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.