Syrian rebels to resume operation if YPG fail to withdraw - field commander

Record ID: 1438079

  • Title: Syrian rebels to resume operation if YPG fail to withdraw - field commander
  • Date: 22nd October 2019
  • Summary: NEAR TEL ABYAD, SYRIA (OCTOBER 22, 2019) (REUTERS) TURKEY-BACKED SYRIAN REBELS SEEN IN THE BACK OF PICKUP TRUCKS DRIVING ALONG A ROAD VARIOUS OF FIGHTERS SEEN IN THE BACK OF PICKUP TRUCKS CARS CARRYING FIGHTERS DRIVING, SYRIAN OPPOSITION FLAG SEEN VARIOUS OF FIGHTERS HOLDING WEAPONS IN THE BACK OF A TRUCK VARIOUS OF TRUCKS CARRYING FIGHTERS VARIOUS OF TRUCKS DRIVING AWAY FIGHTER SITTING ON TOP OF A TRUCK, OTHERS STANDING NEARBY VARIOUS OF FIGHTERS SITTING ON SIDE OF THE ROAD FIGHTERS IN THE BACK OF A TRUCK VARIOUS OF MILITARY CARS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FIELD COMMANDER WITH THE TURKEY-BACKED SYRIAN NATIONAL ARMY (REBEL FORCES), RAMI ABU BAHJAT, SAYING: "We are currently on the fifth day of the ceasefire. We have been adhering completely to this ceasefire. Having said that our forces are ready, should the PKK/YPG fulfil the terms of the ceasefire, we are ready to take over the posts from which they retreat. Should they not retreat, we are ready to resume the military operation to capture (these areas) by force." FIGHTERS GATHERED AROUND COMMANDER VARIOUS OF FIGHTERS SITTING AGAINST A WALL FIGHTER SLEEPING FIGHTERS EATING FIGHTERS WALKING, TANKS, TRUCKS SEEN IN THE BACKGROUND
  • Embargoed: 5th November 2019 13:09
  • Keywords: Turkey Syria rebels military operation into northern Syria ceasefire Syrian Kurdish militia
  • Location: NEAR TEL ABYAD, SYRIA
  • City: NEAR TEL ABYAD, SYRIA
  • Country: Syria
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts,Editors' Choice
  • Reuters ID: LVA001B26JCJR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Turkish-backed Syrian rebels are ready to resume offensive if Kurdish YPG militants don't withdraw from the border area before a U.S. brokered truce ends, a field commander said on Tuesday (October 22).
    The five-day truce in Turkey's cross-border operation to allow the withdrawal of Kurdish YPG fighters from the border area ends at 10 p.m. (1900 GMT) on Tuesday.
    Hours before the truce ends, rebel forces were mobilising near the strategic border town of Tel Abyad.
    Speaking to Reuters, a field commander with Turkey-backed Syrian National Army, Rami Abu Bahjat said they will take over the posts that YPG forces are retrating from. He said the rebel forces are ready to resume the offensive if all militants don't withdraw from the area.
    Turkey's cross-border operation began nearly two weeks ago following U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw American troops from northern Syria.
    Ankara says it wants to set up a "safe zone" along 440 km (275 miles) of border with northeast Syria, but its assault so far has focused on two border towns in the centre of that strip, Ras al Ain and Tel Abyad, about 120 km apart.
    (Production: Khalil Ashawi, Omer Berberoglu, Bushra Shakhshir)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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