Alwaght- French troops have been sighted alongside US forces in the Syrian city of Manbij controlled by Kurdish militants.
Local sources have confirmed seeing armored vehicles with military personnel in the area of the Sajur River in the territory of Manbij. One vehicle has a US flag on it, while the other has a French flag.
Manbij is currently occupied by US-backed Kurdish militant group known as Syrian People's Protection Units (YPG).
According to a senior member of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a group dominated by predominantly Kurdish YPG militants, about 50 French soldiers are stationed on duty in the area. While in the north of Manbij work is currently underway to establish a French military base.
"French soldiers have increased their presence in northern Manbij to prevent the Turkish Military and the so-called Free Syrian Army [FSA] from launching an operation," the militant was quoted by the Sputnik news service as saying, while adding that although the French troops are generally placed on the border, they are active in various parts of the province.
Turkey claims its troops are in Syria to combat the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara considers part of the proscribed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which seeks to Kurdish secession from Turkey. The US and French troops are also in Turkey illegally to prop up Kurdish militants who also seek to break away from Syria thus creating a conflict of interest between the three NATO allies. Syria has demanded that the three countries cease to violate its sovereignty and withdraw their troops from the country's territory.
