Bashar Al-Assad
The U.S. military presence in the area of the Syrian city of Manbij was not coordinated with the authorities of the country. This was stated by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in an interview with Hong Kong TV channel Phoenix TV. Full text of the interview published on the website of news Agency Sana on Saturday, March 11.
According to the head of the state, “any foreign troops entering Syria without our invitation, advice or consent, are aggressive — no matter whether they are American, Turkish or whatever else.”
Assad also said that the U.S. military will not help his country to defeat terrorism. “What are they going to do? To fight “Islamic state” (IG banned in Russia — approx. “Of the tape.ru”)? The Americans lost almost all wars. They were defeated in Iraq, in the end they had to withdraw. Even in Somalia — not to mention Vietnam and Afghanistan,” said the President.
He pointed out that Washington “has not succeeded in any place where he sent his troops, he only created problems”. Assad believes that Americans have “very good at creating problems and destroy, but they are very bad at finding solutions.”
The head of state added that government troops will soon become a priority the liberation of the city of raqqa, which is now a stronghold of ISIS. The liberation of Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor, according to him, it may take several months.
On 6 March it was reported that the Council of the city of Manbij in Northern Syria announced the transfer of the city under the protection of the coalition led by the United States. It happened after on March 1 the Turkish army in cooperation with the Syrian armed rebels attacked a detachment of the city militia, entrenched in the village near the town.
Later, the Syrian army began to occupy the positions left by the local militia, on the line of contact with the Turkish army and its allies of the free Syrian army (FSA).