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Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
World
Asharq Al-Awsat

Turkey-backed Syrian Rebels Move Towards Manbij Front

A road sign that shows the direction to Manbij is seen in the northern Syrian town of al-Bab, March 1, 2017. A road sign that shows the direction to Manbij is seen in the northern Syrian town of al-Bab, March 1, 2017. - REUTERS

The main Turkey-backed Syrian rebel force said on Friday that its convoys, along with Turkish forces, were moving towards the frontlines with the Syrian town of Manbij.

The forces were in "full readiness... to start military operations to liberate" the town, according to Reuters.

Earlier, the Syrian army said it had deployed forces to Manbij after the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) urged Damascus to protect the town from a possible Turkish assault.

Turkey regards YPG as a terrorist group and a threat to its own territory.

On Friday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan argued that Turkey has been working for Syria's territorial integrity and said Turkey's goal remains the defeat of the YPG.

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