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Syria war: Pro-government forces 'enter Manbij' amid Turkey threats | Syria war: Pro-government forces 'enter Manbij' amid Turkey threats |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Syrian pro-government forces have entered the key northern city of Manbij for the first time in six years, an army spokesman has said. | Syrian pro-government forces have entered the key northern city of Manbij for the first time in six years, an army spokesman has said. |
A Kurdish militia controlling the area withdrew and invited Syrian forces to retake the city amid fears that Turkish troops would launch a new offensive. | |
Turkey considers the Kurdish YPG forces to be part of a terrorist group. | Turkey considers the Kurdish YPG forces to be part of a terrorist group. |
The request by the US-backed Kurds follows the shock announcement that all US troops are to withdraw from Syria. | The request by the US-backed Kurds follows the shock announcement that all US troops are to withdraw from Syria. |
President Donald Trump announced the pullout of some 2,000 troops last week, asserting that the Islamic State group (IS) had been defeated. | President Donald Trump announced the pullout of some 2,000 troops last week, asserting that the Islamic State group (IS) had been defeated. |
But that claim has been disputed by important allies who say the move could lead to a resurgence of IS. | But that claim has been disputed by important allies who say the move could lead to a resurgence of IS. |
Effort to deter Turkey | Effort to deter Turkey |
By Martin Patience, Middle East Correspondent, BBC News | By Martin Patience, Middle East Correspondent, BBC News |
The consequences of President Trump's surprise announcement to withdraw all US troops from Syria are now being seen on the ground. | The consequences of President Trump's surprise announcement to withdraw all US troops from Syria are now being seen on the ground. |
Manbij is a strategically important town in northern Syria that until today was under the control of US-backed Kurdish forces. | Manbij is a strategically important town in northern Syria that until today was under the control of US-backed Kurdish forces. |
The Kurds - who led the fight against IS - see Mr Trump's decision as a betrayal. | The Kurds - who led the fight against IS - see Mr Trump's decision as a betrayal. |
Without the support of the Americans, Kurdish leaders are now being forced to choose what they regard as the least bad option. | Without the support of the Americans, Kurdish leaders are now being forced to choose what they regard as the least bad option. |
They will be hoping that the presence of the Syrian government army - which is backed by Russia and Iran - will deter Turkey from launching an attack. | They will be hoping that the presence of the Syrian government army - which is backed by Russia and Iran - will deter Turkey from launching an attack. |
What's the context? | What's the context? |
Turkey has been intensifying its military activity near positions held by Kurdish fighters since President Trump's withdrawal announcement on 19 December. | Turkey has been intensifying its military activity near positions held by Kurdish fighters since President Trump's withdrawal announcement on 19 December. |
US soldiers have been working closely with Kurdish forces who form part of an alliance - the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - in the battle against IS. | US soldiers have been working closely with Kurdish forces who form part of an alliance - the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - in the battle against IS. |
But this policy has infuriated Turkey, which is battling the militia in the nearby city of Afrin. | But this policy has infuriated Turkey, which is battling the militia in the nearby city of Afrin. |
It also says it is frustrated over what it sees as delays to a deal agreed with the US to clear Manbij of Kurdish fighters. | It also says it is frustrated over what it sees as delays to a deal agreed with the US to clear Manbij of Kurdish fighters. |
The deal over the city, which lies to the west of the Euphrates river, was agreed in February in a bid stabilise the region. | The deal over the city, which lies to the west of the Euphrates river, was agreed in February in a bid stabilise the region. |
The US also has soldiers in Manbij, which was taken from IS by forces led by the Kurdish YPG in 2016. | The US also has soldiers in Manbij, which was taken from IS by forces led by the Kurdish YPG in 2016. |
Tensions in the region have risen in recent weeks, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to launch a new offensive against the Kurds. | Tensions in the region have risen in recent weeks, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to launch a new offensive against the Kurds. |
Turkey has launched two previous offensives against the Kurds in Syria since 2016. | Turkey has launched two previous offensives against the Kurds in Syria since 2016. |
Mr Erdogan wants to prevent the Kurds from consolidating their hold on Syrian territory and forming an autonomous region on Turkey's border. | Mr Erdogan wants to prevent the Kurds from consolidating their hold on Syrian territory and forming an autonomous region on Turkey's border. |
Turkey considers the militia to be an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has fought for Kurdish autonomy in south-eastern Turkey for three decades. | Turkey considers the militia to be an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has fought for Kurdish autonomy in south-eastern Turkey for three decades. |