US Sets Up Military Base in Syrian Manbij to 'Defend It From Turkish Attack'

Sputnik News ^ | 3-1-17 | none stated

[Texas Fossil]

A high-ranking representative of the Syrian Democratic Forces, who wished not to disclose his name, has told Sputnik Turkiye that the US is "taking all necessary measures" to defend the Syrian city of Manbij from an attack by the Turkish military. It has set up a military base in the city and hung up its flag as a "warning sign" to Ankara.

The US is "taking all necessary measures" to defend the Syrian city of Manbij in the Aleppo Governorate, 30 kilometers west of the Euphrates, which is currently under control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), from an attack by the Turkish Armed Forces and fighters from the Free Syrian Army (FSA), the SDF representative told Sputnik Turkiye.

In particular, he said, US servicemen have set up a military base in the city and are sending an additional contingent there. They are also deploying heavy weaponry and armored vehicles to the area.

[Texas Fossil]

No, it is not an announcement from the US military, but I suspect that although not verified it is true.

And it is not surprising in relation to prior statements by US General Votel.

more at link, some of it appears to be Reuters as the source.

[Paladin2]

The US should not supprt any flavor of Islam.

[Texas Fossil]

Some of the Syrian Kurds are Muslim. Fact.

Some are also Christian, Yazidi, Jewish (most have now immigrated to Israel). Another Fact.

The percentage of the groups varies depending on the community.

They do not persecute any faith, but certainly do want to end ISIS butchers.

[353FMG]

One NATO member against another?

[House Atreides]

It should support the forces that protect Christians & other religious minorities in the region.

The Turks & the Syrian Islamists they support are NOT included among the forces that protect Christians. If this report is true, it is the right thing to do. If the Turks try to attack an area where Americans are based, I suspect that the Americans themselves will not counterattack the Turks but will give the Russians the green light to bomb the piss out of the attacking Turks and their Islamist allies.

[JPX2011]

This is how I read it: Having defeated ISIS in a city, we’re not going to simply turn it over to Erdogan so he can expand his own version of a Caliphate.

I go back to something Assad said in an interview awhile back about Erdogan, “He thinks he’s the new Sultan.” We all know that he was willing to double deal with ISIS because he thought he would get something out of it. Now that the tables are turned he’s trying to capitalize.

[Texas Fossil]

Not yet. But as far as I can tell the Turks have shelled the town in support of their FSA militia’s.

Turks are in Syria with the pretext of ending ISIS. It is clear they only want to gain and hold territory.

Where that goes after ISIS is finished? Nobody knows.

Erdogan is an Islamist, he made a deal with ISIS to leave Al-Bab. The rumor is they were paid big bucks by another Muslim oil producing nation to leave.

The FSA and ISIS both attacked Manbij yesterday at the same time but different side of town. Coincidence? Nope

[Texas Fossil]

He is a bully. He is an arrogant Islamist dictator.

He has not figured out yet that Trump does not accept bullying without a response.

[RedWulf]

According to Russian sources part of what’s going on here is cutting the final supply lines to ISIS. While neither the Syrian army or the Kurds allow supplies to ISIS areas controlled by the Turkish army & friends do. As long as the Kurds & and Syrian Army continue to hold their current positions ISIS is effectively cut off from supply.

[veracious]

Great article. I agree with parts of it: My sources indicate several times that new USA equipment is being delivered to YPG in the area of Manbij. I have also seen the US flag displayed on the some of the vehicles in column of new equipment.
Someone _is_ trying to deter the Turk/FSA attacks past Al-Bab into YPG territory, toward Manbij, by indicating that they have new US equipment. And therefore, USA supports YPG activity in their area, which it does to some significant degree.
However, Turk/FSA is attacking heavily anyway.
Furthermore, the Russian/Turk/Syrian agreement seemed to me to limit the Turk advance.
YPG in Manbij has officially given the region near Manbij to Syria, in the last day or two. Turk/FSA attacks toward Manbij against the YPG are becoming more completely an attack against Syrian/SSA in each passin moment.
Turk/FSA attacks in the area are out of line with all agreements that I am aware of and indirectly Turk/FSA is attacking USA allies, the YPG.
How long can these multi-nation machinations continue without something serious erupting?

[veracious]

I know of no attack by ISIS into Manbij. Maybe an dis-associated SVEID or such...

[BeauBo]

Americans in Manbij is a powerful tripwire to deter Turks from invading, but they can loose their surrogate dogs to run wild. I'll float two theories.

1. The "FSA" attacking the edge of the SDF area around Manbij may well consist mostly of the former ISIS garrison of al Bab, resupplied with ammo, and supported by Turkish logistics and artillery. They are free cannon fodder for the Turks.

2. ISIS is desperate to break through to Turkish controlled areas, and that is why they are hitting the SDF area from both sides - to reopen their only feasible escape route, as the death blow is coming down on them in earnest, theater-wide.

Our SecDef Mattis:

[Texas Fossil]

Very serious concerns. All valid.

Erdogan’s ego may hurt his results in the Referendum. But he will do all he can to steal the vote.

Turkey has a very old history of Genocide, with very slight pretexts as excuse.

All there know about it, but Turkey has never every admitted they have done it.

[Texas Fossil]

I’ve posted previous articles that listed them as ISIS (fragments or something else). But they are not the FSA.

If you like I can look back for the article that described the dual attacks

[DIRTYSECRET]

Target of opportunity for our enemies.

[Texas Fossil]

Yes. Agree.

So far the SDF (often YPG) is helping the locals control this. They have repelled a few assaults well from what I have heard.

There is concern when the actual assault on Raqqa begins, that Turkey will use the milita’s to stir up distractions.

It seems the SAA and SDF are cooperating pretty well. And out Special Ops are happy with who they fight with.

[BeadCounter]

Headline: US should consider building Incilirk type airbase in Iraqi Kurdistan: http://ekurd.net/us-building-kurdish-incirlik-2017-03-01

[BeadCounter]

The regime side finally took back Palmyra but some reports don’t even say Syrian troops took it back, only Russians and Iranians.

[BeadCounter]

And the Russians and Turkey have been cooperating, all over the news.

[BeadCounter]

Sputnik news, they publish some good things but I wouldn’t put much stock in this.

The Kurds are handing the Syrian regime some control of Manjib, that’s the real news, not this Russian prop.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-manbij-idUSKBN1691FS

http://news.antiwar.com/2017/03/02/syrian-govt-makes-deal-with-kurds-to-counter-turkey-in-manbij/

http://harpers.org/archive/2017/03/from-russia-with-lies/

Things reported in the Russian press:

Recep Tayyip Erdo gan’s daughter owns a hospital that cures Islamic State fighters.

“ISIS” stands for the Israeli Secret Intelligence Services.

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I thought we were looking at a real news story.