Posted on 02/25/2017 3:36:36 PM PST by Texas Fossil
US Central Command General Joseph Votel has promised the defence of Manbij from any possible attacks by Turkey and Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) groups, according to reports.
In a visit to the autonomous region in northern Syria (Rojava) on Friday, which was reported by Kom News, General Votel met with Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) officials in a four hour meeting.
Speaking to AFP, SDF spokesperson Talal Silo commented on the meeting saying, We talked about the coordination between the SDF and Washington and increasing support for the SDF. They promised us heavy weapons for the upcoming phases. The results [of the meeting] were positive. We discussed the Wrath of Euphrates operation and shared developments in the military sphere.
Silo called the meeting a confirmation of American support for our forces.
According to a senior SDF source who spoke to AFP, Votel confirmed the coalitions commitment to protecting Manbij from any attacks waged by Turkey or supported by it, as part of its previous commitment to protecting the area.
The same source also said they hadnt discussed opening corridors for Turkish-backed forces to enter areas under SDF control, something Turkish officials proposed as part of a plan to lead the Raqqa operation to capture the Islamic State (IS) stronghold in Syria.
The operation is currently being carried out by the SDF, much to the annoyance of Ankara which views the force as being led by the YPG, a group it sees as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
The US Central Command Twitter account shared several photos of recently trained Arab fighters and Manbij Military Council officials following Votels visit. According to unofficial figures the SDF is formed of 27,000 Kurdish and 23,000 Arab as well as smaller numbers of Syriac and Turkmen fighters. There are also thought to be several hundred US special forces involved in the operation.
No signs of wavering there. Clear sign that ISIS will be eliminated.
Prayers for our Soldiers and their SDF allies.
Two NATO countries fighting? Not good.
Turkey was an ally.
No more. They enjoy neck cutting.
They always have.
No, not good.
It is product of Erdogan’s Islamic Insanity! He thinks he is God. God knows he is not. And knows who Erdogan serves.
I was watching a Turkish feed at an Iranian diaspora grocery store, and they had a sort of variety Oprah like show and Erdogan pops as a hologram to the cheers of the audience.
This dude is like light years of Obama in terms of Orwelianism, it is scrary.
I don’t believe this abit. This is Kurdish fake news . Trump is not going to embroil us is a middle east political and religious war. He is going to kill ISIS but this has nothing to do with that.
You are very wrong again my friend.
Sort of a cold shoulder. They fck us going into Iraq, we fck them now.
Bottom line is, if Turkey had let us take control of Iraq and fully supported an invasion alongside, the Kurds would be a footnote today. But no, they had to play Saddam friendly antiAmerican instead of being part of a coalition of the willing. Even Mongolians and Fiji were in Iraq.
Says who?
Raqqa Ping
(Manbij)
Was I wrong before?
Turkey is Muslim. US is not yet.
When the Islamist are unchecked. All hell breaks loose. It’s written in the book, if you seriously look at it. Makes them insane.
I don’t have a clue. This is not happening. Central Command is not twittering . This would be utter madness. I KNOW that Trump s not Stupid. This would be insane!! No WAY!!
They also practice genocide. And then lie about it for several generations.
All those in favor of stopping moslems from killing other moslems raise your hand...
>All those in favor of stopping moslems from killing other moslems raise your hand...
Lowers hand.
The first of six planned security force brigades will activate in October at Fort Benning, Georgia, the Army announced on Thursday.
The Security Force Assistance Brigades are the Armys first permanent units that will conduct security cooperation activities and allow quick response to combatant commander requirements, an Army spokesperson told Army Times in an email.
Establishing a proponent for the new structure unifies all related force development activities under a single command to best enable the Army to grow and evolve the organization, the spokesperson said.
WE’re going to the BIG WAR....
This is what Talal Silo says the CENTCOM Commanding General said.
It is likely that he is telling the truth, but not for sure. CENTCOM might refrain from saying it publicly, to allow the Turks to save face.
If that is the USCENTCOM position though, then it is very unlikely that Turkey would be stupid enough to attack Manbij, squander their US Defense umbrella against the Russians in Syria, and get the Kurds equipped with heavy weapons.
As far as ISIS is concerned, if Trump wants ISIS destroyed, then he must keep the Turks out of it. The Turks would rescue as much of ISIS as they could. The Kurds will cheerfully and efficiently execute them to the last man.
Turkey is also showing signs of pressure from their plummeting economy. They are in less of a position to buck the West.
It is looking more likely that they will consolidate their current position (which accomplishes their main objective of blocking a unified Kurdish territory with Afrin Canton), and just declare victory for domestic opinion, before their big referendum in April.
We will see. If the Kurds are desperately bluffing about CENTCOM offering heavy weapons, the Turks will soon find out, and we could see them advance soon.
I could not get the link to work. Can you provide another one—or more info? Thanks.
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