Salih Muslim told NRT by phone that Syria units will operate on the outskirts in cooperation with the Manbij Military Council, which will remain in control of the center of town.

“The reports that the Syrian government forces entered the city are not true. No Syrian government force is in Manbij right now and they will not be,” Muslim said in the phone call.

Regarding Washington's decision to pull its troops out of Syria, Muslim said that that they are not waiting on the US for anything and that US forces are busy with their withdrawal operation.

The Syrian army said it entered Manbij for the first time in years on Friday morning after Kurdish YPG fighters urged Damascus to protect the town from the threat of Turkish attacks.

The YPG announced the move in a tweet, writing: “We invite the Syrian government forces to assert control over the areas our forces have withdrawn from, in particularly Manbij, and to protect these areas against a Turkish invasion.”

Reporter’s code: 50101