Zero Hedge -- Syrian Army To Enter Turkish-Besieged Cities "Within 48 Hours" As US Exits

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Syrian Army To Enter Turkish-Besieged Cities "Within 48 Hours" As US Exits

Syrian Army To Enter Turkish-Besieged Cities "Within 48 Hours" As US Exits

A huge development after earlier in the day Sunday Defense Secretary Mark Esper announced Trump has ordered a "deliberate withdrawal" of 1,000 US troops in northeast Syria amid the advancing Turkish incursion: sources close to the Syrian government have announced  the Syrian Army will move in to assist Kurdish militias in Kobani and Manbij. 

This after shocking statements over the weekend by the head of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazlum Abdi, who

Barbara Starr

✔@barbarastarrcnn

 · Oct 12, 2019

Replying to @barbarastarrcnn @cmoc_sdf

Mazloum "I've been holding myself for two days from going to the press and saying that America abandoned us and that I would like you to get out of our areas now so that I can invite Russian and regime planes to take over this airspace.

Barbara Starr

✔@barbarastarrcnn

"Either you stop this bombing on our people now or move aside so we can let in the Russians." If @cmoc_sdf SDF Gen Mazloum turns to Russia for air protection....can US special forces even stay in Syria?

1,745

5:26 PM - Oct 12, 2019

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, "I've been holding myself for two days from going to the press and saying that America abandoned us and that I would like you to get out of our areas now so that I can invite Russian and [Syrian] regime planes to take over this airspace." 

Syrian Army, via AFP/Getty

Reuters now reports on the significant development which could see the Turkish and Syrian armies enter into direct confrontation: "The Lebanese broadcaster al-Mayadeen said on Sunday the Syrian army would deploy within 48 hours to the town of Kobani which is held by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and the nearby town of Manbij which is controlled by SDF-aligned forces."

"The Syrian Governmental Forces (SAA) are preparing to enter the region of Kobani today, based on an agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces," Syrian official Mohammed Shaheen, was cited as saying. 

As early as last week the SDF was reportedly engaged in intensifying talks with Damascus over assistance from the Syrian Army, after the US withdrew its air support for the Kurdish-led group amid the Turkish assault. 

On Monday the commander of the US trained and armed SDF, Mazlum Abdi, indicated just that in a bombshell statement: “We are considering a partnership with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, with the aim of fighting Turkish forces.” 

Though Damascus has yet to confirm an official deal with YPG/SDF forces, state-run SANA did say on Sunday that national forces were moving north to "confront" Turkish forces and its "aggression". 

Military analysis site, The Defense Post, reports on the potential direct cooperation between the Syrian Army and SDF to push out the Turks:

Kobani official General Ismet Sheikh Hasan 

VdC-NsY \ شمال سوريا@vdcnsy

SDF official in Kobani says we have done an agreement with the Syrian governement to enter the city in the next few hours.

282

4:51 PM - Oct 13, 2019

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 that Russian and Syrian government troops could enter Kobani and Manbij by Sunday night to help secure the cities from a Turkish incursion.

“We did everything we could,” he said. “We have called upon the West [and] the Arab Union but no one is coming to help, so we have no one other than ourselves to defend [Kobani]. Kurdish youth should come and defend their homes, and people should not abandon their homes – this is our land. It looks like this is the fate of the Kurds, to go through this each time.”

https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

: Official statement of

https://twitter.com/hashtag/Syria?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Arab Army: Soon, the

https://twitter.com/hashtag/SAA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

will enter

https://twitter.com/hashtag/Qamishli?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

,

https://twitter.com/hashtag/Manbij?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

& other cities to prevent their fall into hands of

https://twitter.com/hashtag/Turkish?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

backed terrorists. They will also confront terrorists in Ras al-Ayn & Tal Abyad.

https://twitter.com/hashtag/SAA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

defends the Kurds against

https://twitter.com/hashtag/Erdogan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

pic.twitter.com/sPtQaJTLsa

— Babak Taghvaee (@BabakTaghvaee)

Babak Taghvaee@BabakTaghvaee

 · 1h

Replying to @BabakTaghvaee

I was told that it was #US Decision to mediate btw #Syria GOV. & #SDF. So, as its result, #Syria Army is going to take place of #US Special Forces who are in process of removal from NE #Syria. The problem is #Russia Air Force might refuse to provide air support for #Syrian Army!

Babak Taghvaee@BabakTaghvaee

#BREAKING: Official statement of #Syria Arab Army: Soon, the #SAA will enter #Qamishli, #Manbij & other cities to prevent their fall into hands of #Turkish backed terrorists. They will also confront terrorists in Ras al-Ayn & Tal Abyad.#SAA defends the Kurds against #Erdogan

109

6:48 PM - Oct 13, 2019

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Damascus officials had subsequently denied that it was engaged in a wide-ranging deal, however, Sunday's reported development of Syrian Army forces to the north could be the beginning of more significant deal making.

The United States has blocked such talks and cooperation for years, but the White House appears ready to washing its hands of the matter. 

Tyler Durden Sun, 10/13/2019 - 14:27

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