ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—French special forces are in Syria advising Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the battle for Manbij. “The offensive at Manbij is clearly being backed by a certain number of states including France. It’s the usual support – it’s advisory,” a French defence ministry official told AFP on Thursday. The French are providing weapons and military advice to the SDF, a coalition of forces in northern Syria dominated by the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG). The French forces are under order to not engage in combat with Islamic State militants. Last week, France’s Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian confirmed that France was providing some assistance in the battle for Manbij. “We are providing support through weapons supplies, air presence, and advice,” Le Drian said in a televised interview. France has some 150 special forces in the Kurdistan Region, again in an advise and assist role with the Peshmerga on the frontlines around Mosul. They are training the Peshmerga to locate and disarm improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The French have also provided weapons for the Peshmerga, along with specific training on those weapons, 20-millimetre guns. Another shipment of arms is expected to be delivered this month. “In June, French military supplies will be sent to the Peshmerga,” Le Drian said in a meeting with Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani in April. “The fight against terror is ours too. Those terrorists the Peshmerga have been confronting here are the same terrorists carrying out explosions and terror attacks in France and other countries around the world,” said Le Drian. Kurdish and SDF forces are also receiving advice and assistance from some 300 US special forces in Syria.
