Syrian Army to Enter Kurdish-Held Afrin in Coming Hours

The state-run SANA news agency reported that the Syrian popular forces will enter Afrin to face the Turkish military aggression.

Also, the Arabic-language Al-Mayadeen TV reported that agreement on deployment of the army forces in Afrin is nearing implementation and might go into force in coming hours.

Al-Mayadeen further quoted Spokesman for Democratic Society Movement Abdulrahman Salman as saying that the army’s arrival in Afrin will give a crushing response to the Turkey.

Salman hoped for further agreements between the Kurds and Damascus to foil threats against Syria.

Al-Mayadeen pointed out that the Syrian Army has been in control of military points in Qastal, Jandou and Ein Daqna since the start of the Turkish army operation in Afrin.

It added that a non-military delegation from Sheikh Maqsoud region in the Northern part of Aleppo city and the town of Manbij have entered Afrin for supporting the agreement.

A high-ranking Kurdish commander declared on Sunday that a Kurdish fighters and the Damascus government agreed on deployment of the Syrian Army troops in Afrin region.

The Kurdish-language Rudaw news quoted Shikho Balu, a senior commander of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (or PYD) in Northern Syria, as saying that according to a newly-concluded agreement with the Damascus government, the Syrian Army men would enter Afrin on Monday.

The commander further added that the army’s deployment was aimed at defending the Afrin town and region.

In the meantime, the Arabic-language al-Mayadeen TV quoted a Syrian source as saying that logistical preparations were underway for the army’s deployment in Afrin, adding that the exact date for the army’s deployment to the town and region was not been specified.

Al-Mayadeen TV quoted well-informed sources as saying on Friday that the Syrian government and the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) agreed on the deployment of the Syrian Army troops in Afrin region which has come under attack by the Turkish army troops and their allied militants in recent weeks.

It added that the newly-concluded agreement is aimed at confronting the Turkish’s operation in Afrin.

Other Arab media outlets said that the Syrian Army has refused the offer from the YPG to enter the Afrin region of Aleppo.

The AMN quoted sources in Aleppo province as saying on Friday that the Syrian Army rejected the YPG offer because the latter refused to hand over their weapons to Damascus.

The Syrian Army has repeatedly requested that the YPG turn in all of their weapons before their forces would enter the Afrin region and fend off the Turkish-led incursion.

However, the Syrian Army maintains that they will continue to allow the Kurdish forces to resupply the area from within their own territory in Aleppo.

Meantime, the Iran-based Arabic-language al-Alam news channel quoted Behjat Abdou, the head of the YPG committee in Afrin, as saying that no agreement was made to deploy the Syrian army soldiers in Afrin, adding that the Kurds were highly prepared to repel the Turkish army attacks.