The security institutions controlled by Turkey in Jarablus issued an order to close all roads linking the Turkish-controlled part of northern Syria with the Manbij and its countryside controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Manbij Military Council.
The decision is aimed at preventing an economic cooperation with the SDF-controlled territory. The Turkish-controlled forces will also attempt to cut smuggling routes between the Turkish-controlled and Kurdish-controlled areas in northern Syria.
The security forces’ statement
The Turkish Army arrested two officers of the Turkish-trained “Free Police” after they refused to fly the Turkish flag on top of the security institutions in Azaz. The officers were identified as Abdallah Zino and Sabri Al-Awad.
The Manbij Military Council announced on April 2 that five fighters had defected from the Operation Euphrates Shield’ forces into their ranks bacause of their opposition to the Turkish crackdown on civilians and rebels in the Al-Bab-Jarabulus-Azaz triangle.
