ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A spokesman denied that the Syrian Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) are militarily reinforcing the local Jarablus and Manbij military councils, whose forces are currently clashing with Turkish-backed militiamen in northwestern Syria. “There are reinforcements (for these councils), but not by the YPG. Because the YPG are east of the Euphrates,” the head of the Rojava Media Office, Ibrahim Ibrahim, told Reuters on Monday. The military councils claim they are defending themselves from Turkish aggression. The Jarablus Military Council released a statement on Friday stressing its “main target is ISIS and the fight against terrorism. But we won’t relent from defending ourselves and the people.” Turkey opposes continued Kurdish YPG presence on the west side of the Euphrates following the liberation of Manbij earlier this month, where the YPG fought under the banner of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an Arab-Kurdish group. The US has also warned the YPG to withdraw to the east side of the Euphrates River if they want to continue to receive US support in their war against ISIS. Since Turkey assaulted Islamic State (ISIS) militants in Jarablus on Wednesday its Syrian militia allies have been clashing with US-backed SDF fighters south of Jarablus in northwestern Syria. Turkey has also been attacking these forces, which it claims are linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), with artillery and airstrikes in that area.
