Aleppo: Syrian, Turkish Armies Going Head to Head for Confrontation

The Arabic-language website of the Kurdish news website, Hawar news, reported that the Ankara-backed militants attacked the positions of al-Bab Military Council in the villages of Albuhij and Bou Qaz near the town of al-Arimah East of the town al-Bab in Northeastern Aleppo regardless of the Syrian Army’s presence in the region.

It further said that gunmen of al-Bab Military Council managed to repel the Ankara forces’ attacks.

In the meantime, Manbij Military Council’s media center reported that gunmen of the Turkey-led Euphrates Shield forces targeted the council’s positions at Sajoiur line of separation near the town of Majbij in Northeastern Aleppo.

The center further said that the Ankara-backed militants launched heavy shelling on the small towns of Jokhar Kabir East on Manbij, al-Mohsenli West of Manbij and the villages of al-Baraziyah West of the town of al-Arimah and also al-Koridiyah region in Northeastern Aleppo.

Military expert said that the Ankara-backed militants’ continued attacks on the Kurds regardless of the Syrian Arm’s presence in the region have increased the possibility of direct confrontation between the Damascus forces and militants as well as the Turkish army that is backing the latter.

On Monday, The Syrian Army surrounded Manbij from three different flanks after the Turkish-backed rebels began mass mobilizing their gunmen North of the town.

According to a military source near Manbij, the Syrian Arab Army deployed their Republican Guard, 1st Armored Division, and 4th Armored Division at the Western, Southern and Eastern flanks of the town of Manbij, the AMN reported.

The Syrian army was able to reach the Eastern axis of Manbij after the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) reportedly transferred control of the Tishrin Dam to the government troops.

With thousands of rebel troops situated at the Northern outskirts of the city, the Syrian Arab Army is taking precautionary measures to prevent a potential invasion of Eastern Aleppo and Western Raqqa.

Despite the recent talks between the Russian and Turkish governments regarding the situation in Syria, Ankara is still not convinced that the Kurdish-led People’s Protection Units (YPG) have withdrawn from Manbij.

As a result of this, the Turkish military and their allies have chosen to remain active at the Northern part of the town.