The Autonomous Administration in Manbij and its Military Council withdrew a law pertaining to compulsory conscription, amid ongoing talks between the region’s leaders, tribal chiefs and administration officials in order to calm the situation after protests that saw the killing of five persons.
In comments to Asharq Al-Awsat, Mohammed Abu Adel, the commander-in-chief of the Manbij Military Council, said that a meeting was held on Wednesday with the city’s officials, during which a decision was taken to halt the compulsory military service and release all those who were detained in the recent protests.
Abu Adel added that a committee would be formed to investigate cases of firing at protesters and hold those involved accountable.
The civil society leaders, as a goodwill gesture, decided to accept mediation and stop all protests, giving the administration until Friday to meet their demands, including the release of detainees, treating those who got injured during the protests at the administration’s expense and providing fuel, domestic gas and cement at an acceptable price.
The head of the Legislative Council in Manbij, Mohammad Ali al-Abbo, accused “malicious hands of seeking to stir sedition and strike security and stability in the city.”
“We are part of Syria, and Manbij is of great importance due to its geographic location, the homogeneity that exists between its components, and the state of stability it has reached. Such conditions do not please those who seek to harm the security and stability of our city,” he remarked.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are seeking assistance from Russia to calm the situation in Manbij and neighboring villages.
An activist said a Russian military convoy was seen entering the city on Wednesday, along with SDF members.
In turn, activist Marwan Al-Halabi said that the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army’s Third Corps sent military reinforcements, including military vehicles and fighters to the contact lines with Manbij, north of Aleppo, to monitor the developments in the area.
He noted that negotiations are expected to take place between the SDF and the Syrian regime to hand over the Manbij area to the latter, unless the SDF was able to control the situation.
