Manbij offensive (2016)
| Manbij offensive (2016) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Syrian Civil War, the Syrian Kurdish–Islamist conflict (2013–present), and the American-led intervention in Syria | |||
| |||
| Belligerents | |||
 Syrian Democratic Forces Air support:  CJTF–OIR[1][2] |
 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant | ||
| Units involved | |||
|
| |||
| ||||||
The Manbij offensive is a planned military offensive operation by the Syrian Democratic Forces to capture the city of Manbij in northeastern Aleppo Governorate from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The offensive started on 30 March 2016 and is supported by the United States Air Force, which conducted 25 airstrikes against ISIL in two days prior to the offensive.[2]
Background
In late December 2015, the SDF crossed the Euphrates and captured the Tishrin Dam and nearby towns from ISIL, therefore paving a way from a future offensive toward Manbij.
Preparations
On 2 April 2016, 6 non-YPG factions of the Syrian Democratic Forces formed the Manbij Military Council to pave way for the attack on Manbij. Most of the groups are part of the Army of Revolutionaries's Northern Sun Battalion, including the Euphrates Martyrs Brigade, the Jund al-Haramayn Brigade, and an non-Northern Sun Battalion group consisting of ethnic Turkmen called the Manbij Turkmen Brigade.[3][4][5]
On 3 April, the U.S. has asked for Turkey’s support to the Manbij offensive, but Turkey had two demands in exchange for helping the U.S.-led anti-ISIL coalition. Turkey first demanded that the Syrian Arab tribes to be included in the Manbij operation should leave the Syrian Democratic Forces, which majority consists of the People's Protection Units and the Women's Protection Units and also the U.S. must increase its air strikes for groups Turkey support.[6]
On 4 April, according to a Turkish source, a group of U.S. military and intelligence staff traveled to Turkey to work on a plan for an operation to liberate Manbij.[7]
On 5 April, a civilian council was formed in the town of Sarin by individuals originally from Manbij whom fled when IS took over. The council consists of Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen, Circassians[8] and was created to administer Manbij after its capture in the future. Due to the US' alliance with Turkey, which is hostile SDF gains, the SDF is still pending for American support for the offensive.[9]
As of 23 April, the Coalition announced that they have not yet begin air support for the offensive, due to the support for a failed offensive conducted by the rebels against ISIL near Mare'.[10]
References
- 1 2 "Syria Kurds preparing Manbij offensive: report". Now. 30 March 2016.
- 1 2 "US airstrikes pave way for PYD, regime advance in northern Syria". Daily Sabah. 30 March 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 "The formation of a new Manbij Military Council to expel Daesh from Manbij, Aleppo". All4Syria. 2 April 2016.
- ↑ "Military council formed and announced on Tishrin Dam, statement says: "We will make every effort to liberate Manbij"". Live UA Map. 2 April 2016.
- ↑ "Several SDF factions have formed the military council for Manbij". Live UA Map. 2 April 2016.
- ↑ "Turkey has two demands from US for support in Manbij operation: Sources". hurriyet.
- ↑ "Turkey has two demands from US for support in Manbij operation: Sources". hurriyet.
- ↑ https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/reportsfeatures/566847-kurds-rebels-in-rat-race-to-seize-isis-territory
- ↑ "Kurds set up new civilian council for recapturing Syria’s Manbij from ISIS". ARA News. 6 April 2016.
- ↑ "U.S.: No decision yet to support Kurds to close ISIS-held Manbij pocket". ARA News. 23 April 2016.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
