Turkey-backed forces take full control of Syrian city from US-backed, Kurdish-led force

The Turkish-backed forces, known as the Syrian National Army, launched an offensive against the Syrian Democratic Forces in the northern Syrian city of Manbij on on Dec. 6, days after similarly expelling the SDF fighters from the city of Tal Rifaat.

Turkish security officials said Monday that “control of Manbij has been secured,” without providing further detail. The officials provided the information on condition of anonymity, in line with Turkish regulations.

Turkey views the SDF, which is primarily composed of a Syrian Kurdish militia group, as an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, and a terrorist organization. The force however, has been a key partner of the United States in the fight against the Islamic State group.