The Syrian National Army announced they begun advancing towards the town of Manbij in eastern rural Aleppo along with the Turkish forces, pointing out that they are ready to launch a military operation to capture the town.
In a statement on Friday, the National Army said that its columns began advancing on the front lines along with the Turkish army,” saying it is completely ready to start military operations to take Manbij.
Hamzah Abu Bakr, commander of the Hamzah Division of the National Army, said: “We will begin the battle in just a few hours. Our troops are now on the outskirts of Manbij and we are waiting for instructions to start the military operations.”
Local activists said that the National Army and Turkish Army continue to ramp up forces on the outskirts of the town, especially on its western side. Spokesman for the National Army, Maj. Yousef Hammoud, told Baladi News Network that more than 14,000 fighters are ready for the battle for east of the Euphrates and the town of Manbij.
Meanwhile, the PYD militia in Manbij has been gripped by fear and anticipation. Local activists said that the militia detained young men on Saturday in the town on charges of belonging to the Free Syrian Army. Graffiti welcoming the entry of the FSA to the town was also scrawled on walls of the town early Saturday. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
