Manbij locals reject the Turkish threats on their city
Manbij – Saddam Hasan – North-Press Agency
The local people of the city of Manbij expressed their rejection of the repeated threats by Turkish President Erdogan on their city under the pretext of fighting terrorists and securing the region for the return of the Syrian refugees.
Mohammed al-Hasan from Manbij said in a survay conducted by North-Press that they reject the Turkish threats being the owners of the land and its native people, adding: "We are the tribes of Manbij, and we reject the Turkish threats on our city."
Hasan pointed that the pretexts of the Turkish regime to rid Manbij of terrorism are flimsy pretexts that have nothing to do with reality, describing it as Ottoman occupation. He said that Erdogan claims that he is fighting terrorism while he already supports the Euphrates Shield, “which I would call the Dollar Shield, not the Euphrates," he said.
Al-Hasan affirmed their readiness to defend their city if it is in danger, "We are the sons of this country, and we will protect it and defend our honor."
He added that any threat on the country is a threat to them in reference to the Turkish attacks on northern Syria, "we are ready to defend any external threats, especially on Manbij and northeastern Syria".
Ahmad al-Khalaf expressed his rejection of the Turkish threats: "As a son of Manbij, we have the right to manage our city, the Turkish threats are totally rejected, and we ready to defend any potential threat," he said.
He stressed that if war is to be, “we will stand united with the Manbij Military Council since it is representing us.”
The city of Manbij has always been threatened by the Turkish government, which is seeking to extend its control due to its proximity to the Turkish borders and its strategic importance.
Since the summer of 2018, the Manbij Military Council of the Autonomous Administration controls the city. This is after the withdrawal of the Syrian Democratic Forces from the city under an agreement concluded by Washington with Turkey.
With the start of the Turkish military invasion in Ras al-Ain (Sere Kaniye) and Tal Abyad (Gire Spi), the U.S. forces withdrew from these areas, while the SDF announced an agreement with Russia, under which the Syrian government forces were deployed around Manbij.