The United States has deployed military vehicles and troops near the northern city of Manbij, in an attempt to prevent tensions escalating between Turkey and US-backed Kurdish militias, both of which are fighting against the Islamic State, yet view each other as enemies. The move comes as the US-led coalition is currently backing a campaign by its Syrian militia allies to encircle and ultimately capture the city of Raqqa, the de facto capital of the Islamic State in Syria. The area around Manbij has been controlled since last year by the Manbij Military Council, a local militia that is a part of the Syrian Democratic Forces, an umbrella organization of armed groups of which the Kurdish YPG militia is also a part.
An official statement released by Washington said that the United States aims to “prevent any clashes or skirmishes” between the Manbij Military Council and Turkey’s “Euphrates Shield” operation, who views the rise of Kurdish power in northern Syria with alarm.” Turkey considers Manbij as part of the safe zone it wants to create on its southern borders with Syria, to the elimination of the Kurdish YPG militia, which it considers a hostile terrorist group.
The US military deployment in the city of Manbij has prompted a Russian response, in which it deployed its own troops in the city of Jeb al-Hamra, located a few kilometers West of Manbij. The Russian troops stationed there, are currently operating along-side forces of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Damascus released a statement following the American military deployment, accusing Washington of invading its country, because it entered without Assad’s permission.