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Turkey backed rebels artillery hammers Manbij
[ARA News] Manbij – Turkey-backed rebels of the Euphrates Shield Brigades on Tuesday bombed several villages west of Manbij city, in a renewed offensive against areas held by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).The Turkey-backed rebels bombed the villages of Sheikh Nassir, Sab Weran, al-Yalani, Kawikli, Qirt Weran, and Jab al-Dam. The bombardment caused civilian casualties and a massive destruction to residential buildings, local sources told ARA News. The indiscriminate artillery shelling caused the death of at least ten civilians and the injury of over 40 others, who were immediately transferred to the Manbij Hospital for treatment. The attack has also caused a mass displacement among the residents of the targeted villages towards the city of Manbij. “We condemn this intervention by Turkey. We want to tell Erdogan that the people of Manbij are able to protect themselves,” Saleh Haj Muhammed, Deputy Chief of the Manbij Civilian Council, told ARA News. “Our forces (SDF) have liberated the city from ISIS and they are able to protect the city and its people against any offensives, whether by the Turkish state or its mercenaries,” he said, in reference to the Turkish-backed rebel groups. Adnan Abu Amjad, Commander of the SDF-led Manbij Military Council, called Tuesday’s attacks on the countryside of Manbij “irresponsible action that requires a fierce response”. “These irresponsible actions by Turkey and its allies are strongly condemned. The indiscriminate bombardment on our forces and civilians’ houses is an explicit violation.” the commander told ARA News. “Since the liberation of Manbij city and its countryside from ISIS last August, we have been facing this Turkish aggression,” Amjad said. “While the Turkey-backed Euphrates Shield Brigades claim to fight ISIS in the region, they keep bombing Manbij and its countryside. The Turkish air force has also launched air raids on the security centres of the Manbij council,” he told ARA News. “We have chosen resistance to face this aggression by Turkey and its allied Euphrates Shield Brigades.” The Turkish army forces and allied rebel groups in Syria have repeatedly targeted areas held by the Syrian Democratic Forces, including Manbij, Tel Abyad and other mostly-Kurdish areas. The Rojava Self-Administration has condemned the Turkish attacks on northern Syria, calling on the international community to make serious efforts to stop these violations. Posted by: badanov 2016-12-07 |
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