Syria Cries Foul Play: German and French Forces in Our Territory

The Syrian foreign ministry on Wednesday strongly condemned the presence of French and German special forces in the areas of Ayn al-Arab and Manbij to help Syrian Kurdish militants in the fight against Daesh.

Darwish said the Manbij civil council was bringing supplies from the northern, Syrian YPG militia-controlled city of Kobani to displaced persons, but this was not enough.

According to eyewitnesses to Tuesday’s assault, ISIS fighters specifically sought out houses inhabited by Kurdish families in the targeted villages around al-Bab city before breaking into them.

Syrian government forces and some rebel groups are also fighting separate battles against Islamic State. The conflict pits rebels against Bashar al-Assad’s so-called regime forces. “However, since the SDF troops started their campaign and made gains against the Islamic State, the group’s members in Manbij started punishing civilians collectively after accusing them of supporting the US-backed SDF”, media activist Nassir Taljbini told ARA News.

Berlin, however, was quick to deny the presence of German special forces in Syria. One person told Reuters ISIS was arresting people suspected of collaborating with the SDF.

The SDF have been cutting off routes into Manbij, encircling the city by seizing outlying villages like Hamidi’s, Am Adasa.

“Since the operation began the Coalition has conducted more than 190 airstrikes in the vicinity of Manbij and in the last four days destroyed three command headquarters, which is encouraging ISIL’s retreat into the city”, the coalition added, using another acronym for ISIS.

France’s defense minister said last week that there were also special forces operating in Syria helping the SDF advance towards Manbij.

The Observatory, however, said German, French and American military advisers, and French and American special forces, were assisting the SDF.

Since the start of the offensive on May 31, 49 civilians have died as a result of the USA -led coalition air strikes in and around Manbij and 19 civilians had been killed by ISIS, the Observatory said.