The Free Syrian Army (FSA) has issued a statement on Thursday morning that demanded the predominately Kurdish “People’s Protection Units” (YPG) withdraw from 7 villages in northern Aleppo after recent tensions following the abduction of several members of the YPG and their allies from Jaysh Al-Thuwar in the Aleppo Governorate’s northern countryside.
According to the statement released by the Free Syrian Army’s Central Command in the Aleppo Governorate, the YPG has 48 hours to withdraw from the following villages: Maryamin, Anab, Shawaghra, Tanib, Kashta’ar, Mirash,and Qanbriyah.
If the People’s Protection Units and Jaysh Al-Thuwar do not withdraw from these 7 villages, the Free Syrian Army and their allies from Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham and the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” will take matters into their own hands and confront the Kurdish resistance forces.
Two hours ago, the YPG and Jaysh Al-Thuwar launched an assault on the Islamist rebel defenses near the strategic border-city of ‘Azaz after the Russian Air Force’s SU-24 fighter jets carried out almost 40 airstrikes along the Turkish border.
The last 72 hours have been very tense in northern Syria after the Turkish Air Defense downed a Russian fighter jet that was flying through Syrian airspace; this has prompted the Russians to intensify their airstrikes on the border of Turkey.
