Pro-Turkish sources have been spreading rumors that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) may hand over the strategic town of Tall Rifa’t in the northern Aleppo countryside to the Mutasim Brigade, a part of the Turkey-led Euphrates Shield Forces.
According to reports, this agreement was reached after two months of negotiations mediated by the US. However, a commander of the Mutasim Brigade said that no agreement has been reached so far.
There is a ceasefire agreement between the SDF and the Mutasim Brigade that receives great support from the United States.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Army shelled the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), the largest group in the SDF, with missiles in Tal Rifat and in the vicinity of Afrin town.
Turkish forces are shelling YPG positions
On the other hand, pro-Turkish militants launched an attack on the village of Ghazwaniya west of Afrin. The YPG repelled the attack.
The town of Tall Rifa’t has witnessed violent clashes between the YPG and the joint forces of Ahrar al-Sham and the Al-Shami Front. Turkey is pushing many Free Syrian Army groups to attack YPG positions in Afrin in order to put additional pressure on the SDF to strengthen the Turkish influence in northern Syria.
