Turkey has demanded that the Kurdish alliance of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) withdraw its formations from Tell Rifaat, Manbij and Ayn al-Arab (Kobani), located in Aleppo province. Al Jazeera TV channel reported this on Monday, citing Turkish officials.
"Ankara demanded the withdrawal of the Syrian Democratic Forces from Manbij, Ayn al-Arab and Tell Rifaat," the report said. According to Al Jazeera sources, Turkey set a deadline for the Kurdish formations to leave these areas, and agreed to return institutions controlled by the Syrian government there.
In addition, the channel's interlocutors stated that "the Russian side is making efforts to meet Ankara's demands in order to avoid a military operation [by Turkey] in northern Syria."
Since November 20, the Turkish air force and artillery have been striking SDF-controlled territory in northern Aleppo, Raqqa and Al-Hasakah provinces. According to a report by the SDF, Turkish troops and Syrian opposition formations have fired at least 800 shells into populated areas there over the past few days. On November 23, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced plans to conduct a ground operation in several areas in northern Syria, including Tell Rifaat, Manbij and Ayn al-Arab (Kobani).
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Based on materials from TASS