Manbij • Page 4 of 4

Mar- 2018 -

19 March

10

Erdogan says Turkey to expand military operation in Syria to Manbij, Kobane and Qamishli

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to expand Turkey's campaign in Syria to other Kurd-held territory up to the Iraq border, and again threatened a military operation against Sinjar in Iraq

17 March

Commentary

Wladimir Van Wilgenburg

3

Omar Alloush – murdered for building a shared future for Syria’s Arabs and Kurds?

Assassinated in his home, Alloush worked for reconciliation between Arabs and Kurds, focusing on stabilization projects in land liberated from ISIS. Syrian Kurds blame Turkey for his murder.

13 March

Middle East

Fergus Kelly

2

Syria: Turkey says Efrin town encircled, agreement reached over military deployment in Manbij

Turkey's military and Syrian rebel allies have encircled the Syrian town of Afrin, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) said, while Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that an agreement was reached with the US for Turkish troops to deploy in Manbij

2 March

Commentary

Wladimir Van Wilgenburg

7

From Hasakah to Manbij: How I got shot at by rebel snipers in Syria

When Wladimir Van Wilgenburg returned to Syria to cover the ongoing war in the north, he quickly found that getting access to the frontlines in Afrin and Manbij was more difficult than anticipated

Feb- 2018 -

13 February

Commentary

Opinion Editor

5

The Manbij Conundrum

The collapse, or eviction by military force, of the SDF from Manbij would have dire consequences for the stability of the SDF, and by extension, the entire US mission to build stability in the wake of the Islamic State in Syria.

Jan- 2018 -

27 January

Middle East

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson meets Turkish foreign minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu

Fergus Kelly

2

Turkey tells US to “immediately withdraw” from Manbij, Syria

Turkey urged the United States to withdraw military personnel from Manbij, Syria after Ankara said the US said it would stop arming the predominantly Kurdish YPG

25 January

Commentary

Fergus Kelly

1

Will Turkey attack Manbij?

Experts discuss whether Turkey's Operation Olive Branch incursion into Syria's Afrin will also target Manbij

14 January

Middle East

Ibrahim Kalin, Presidential Spokesperson and Special Adviser to the President of Turkey

Fergus Kelly

1

Turkey slams “unacceptable” Coalition plan to build Syrian Border Security Force

Turkish presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin heavily criticised the United States and the Coalition, saying that the Syrian Border Security Force is "legitimizing the PKK."

13 January

Middle East