Spokesman Youssef Hammoud says Turkey-backed fighters have reinforced their positions on the front lines with Manbij, including in areas where Syrian troops have taken up positions alongside the Kurdish-led forces. Turkey and its Syrian allied fighters have threatened an offensive against Manbij, to dislodge the U.S.-backed Kurdish militia.

The escalation in Manbij reached new heights in the wake of the U.S.’s Dec. 14 decision to withdraw its troops from Syria. Although a timetable has not yet been made public, rival forces in the area are readying to grab territory vacated by U.S. troops, AP reported.

Hammoud said Syrian government troops have reinforced their existing positions south and west of Manbij, but have not entered the town.

“We are in forward positions all along the front line with Manbij and rural areas. We have reinforced our positions and are on alert, awaiting the signal for the start of the battle,” he said.

The U.S.-led coalition has denied that there were changes to the military deployment in Syria’s Kurdish-held Manbij, refuting the Syrian government’s account that its troops have entered the town.

The coalition said Friday that the announcement that government troops had entered the town was “incorrect.” Kurdish officials said the government troops have deployed at the front lines with Turkey-backed fighters to avert a Turkish offensive.

Turkey’s Defense Ministry says the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units, or YPG, has no authority to make statements on behalf of the region’s people or “invite other elements” into the region.

The statement Friday apparently was referring to the YPG’s appeal to the Syrian government to seize control of the northern town of Manbij to avert an attack by Turkey.

In an official statement Friday, Turkey’s Ministry of Defense said it was closely monitoring the situation in Manbij.

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