Positions of the Manbij Military Council-affiliated Liwa Siqur Shîmal fighters who are defending the Dadat Front on Manbij border to Jarablus, and the positions of Turkish state-affiliated gangs groups called FSA are almost located across each other.

Speaking to ANF, fighters of the Liwa Siqur Shîmal affiliated to the Manbij Military Council stated that the Turkish troops attacked their positions with heavy weaponry from time to time, while FSA groups affiliated to them rob the locals. Fighters stressed that they have the capacity to defend their lands, and will stand against the Turkish army and FSA entering Manbij.

“MANBIJ WAS LIBERATED WITH THE BLOOD OF OUR MARTYRS”

Liwa Siqur Shîmal Commander Kawa Minbic responded to Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan's remarks “We will head for Manbij” in the following way:

"We are children of Manbij and we are defending these borders. The people here do not want the presence of Turkish forces on their lands. Residents held a demonstration a few days ago and expressed all together that "We do not want Erdoğan". Turkey and affiliates have no right to enter Manbij which was liberated with the blood of many comrades of ours who sacrificed their lives. YPG and YPJ also came here to support the liberation of the city, which was achieved thanks to their aid. They left the city after handing it over to its people. We all are the children of Manbij. Turkish army has recently attacked our area and positions with heavy weapons. They fired mortars and three of them landed on the village, harming the residents here."

"GANGS ROB THE PEOPLE"

Kawa Minbic reported a presence of gang groups called FSA which the Turkish state has deployed on the Manbij border, telling the followings: "All those gangs are thieves. Everyone knows that the Turkish state has established a gang. Ask the people themselves what the so-called FSA gangs are doing. We are on the border and here they have a check point where they get 300-400 dollars from the local merchants that provide the daily needs in Manbij. They even get money from those who get a rest in this area at night when the gate is closed. In addition to money, they sometimes seize the mobile phones. There is no humanity left in them. We as the children and people of Manbij do not believe, and do not accept that such a force will do something for our freedom."

"WE PROTECT OURSELVES AND OUR PEOPLES"

Another Liwa Siqur Shîmal fighter Agit Minbic called attention to the already known histories of the Turkish state and the FSA, saying: “They all are thieves, they are stealing the properties of the people. ISIS gangs are kidnapping people every day but Erdoğan supports them. Erdoğan has always supported them but he now claims to be fighting against them. As the peoples of Manbij, we do not have any problem at the moment. There are no YPG or YPJ here. We are all affiliated to the Manbij Military Council, and we are the children of Manbij.”

Fighter Fırat Minbic expressed his thoughts on the issue as follows: "Erdoğan and FSA should not dream of entering Manbij. We are the children of Manbij. Our comrades and friends were martyred here and it is us that will protect and defend Manbij. We are defending ourselves and our peoples."

"WE WANT NEITHER TURKEY NOR FSA"

Another fighter, Refik Sellum emphasised that the FSA groups acting with the support of the Turkish state do not aim to liberate the people of Manbij, nor to develop a democratic system, adding: "Residents of many villages under the control of these groups complain that the gangs engage in theft. Erdoğan continuously says 'We will enter Manbij' in the form of a propaganda over press. We want neither the Turkish state nor affiliated gangs on our lands because we know that their presence will bring us and our peoples no good but only death and destruction. As Manbij Military Council's fighters, we can defend our lands and we do not need anybody. If we happen to need someone one day, we know very well who those people will be."