Syrian National Army to thwart terror threat in Manbij

By Burak Karacaoglu, Mohamad Misto, Omer Koparan, Levent Tok

MANBIJ, Syria (AA) - The Syrian National Army (SNA), composed of various opposition groups fighting Bashar al Assad regime, is taking security measures, even as Turkey is contemplating to launch military operations against terror groups YPG/PKK, east of Euphrates River.

The SNA dispatched armored vehicles and fighters to Manbij from different regions to thwart possible retaliation from YPG/PKK in the region, in case Turkish armed forces launch military operations against terrorist targets.

Since 2016, Turkey’s Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch operations in northwestern Syria have liberated the region from YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists, making it possible for Syrians who escaped the violence to return home.

Turkey has long decried the threat from terrorists east of the Euphrates, in northern Syria, pledging military action to prevent the formation of a "terrorist corridor" there.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is the Syrian branch of the terrorist PKK.

The SNA is composed of various Turkey-backed opposition groups which is taking part in Turkey's ongoing Operation Olive Branch in Afrin to liberate the region from PKK and Daesh terrorists.

* Writing by Dilara Hamit