MESOP WEST KURDISTAN – SYRIA : DESPITE THE FORMERLY PKK/PYD (YPG) FORECAST – Local forces will control Manbij not Kurds: Pentagon

The Pentagon Spokesman stated that local forces will take hold of the Syrian northern city of Manbij and the city’s control will not be like the Kurdish city of Kobani.

Operation to liberate the city and its surrounding areas from the control of the militants of the Islamic State (IS) started on May 31 and Kurdish-Arab Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has entered the city. Peter Cook stated that the democratic forces are one kilometers away from the center of the city and are continuing their advance despite the IS resistance.

He further said that most of the SDF forces are Arabs not Kurds and the Arabs are leading the forces, adding that local people of the city will control it not the Kurds, as the situation is in Kobani.Cook also added that the U.S.-led anti-IS coalition has conducted 246 aerial operations against the IS positions. www.mesop.de