ALEPPO, Syria — Turkish armed forces and Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) factions have mobilized on the outskirts of Manbij, which is under the control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in the northeastern Aleppo countryside in preparation for an anticipated Turkish military operation in northern Syria.
The Turkish army and FSA factions have recently been targeting SDF positions in Manbij’s surrounding villages with heavy weapons and artillery.