Rebel commanders have denied targeting any U.S. forces near the northern city of Manbij, which is under the control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.
The deputy commander of the Liwa al-Shimal group, Anas al-Sheikh Wais, in an audio message published on social media, denied statements by the internation coalition, rejecting there were any clashes with American forces near Manbij.
Sheikh Wais said that civilians in the nearby village of Tukhar on Tuesday evening were struck by gunfire from checkpoints under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces, “but we did not respond to these aggressions,” he added.
Spokesman for the anti-Islamic State (ISIS) coalition Col. Ryan Dillon said on Tuesday that the international forces responded with gunfire after being fired upon repeatedly near Manbij, while carrying out monitoring patrols near the areas control by fighters backed by Turkey. He said Turkey was told to inform the fighters who it is backing that firing on the international forces is “unacceptable.”
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
