YPG spokesperson Nuri Mahmoud told NRT that US military assistance to the group is ongoing despite the US decision to withdraw from Syria. He did not go into detail about what sort of support the US was providing.
He also appeared to confirm a Reuters report on Saturday that the Pentagon had no plans to take back the weapons that it had provided to the YPG.
“We are committed to the political decisions by the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC). If it is in the interests of protecting all the components [of the Syrian Democratic Forces], we will make agreements with the Syrian government,” Mahmoud said regarding the recent deployment of Syrian regime forces near Manbij.
He emphasized they will count on themselves rather than on foreign forces and that they would enter into any friendship and alliance if it was in the interests of the people.
YPG General Command announced on Friday that they were calling on the Syrian army to protect Manbij from an expected Turkish attack. Later that day, regime units deployed in areas of the west of the city.
Co-chair of the Diplomatic Committee of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) Salih Muslim said on that there were no Syrian government forces in Manbij town, which the International Coalition later appeared to confirm.
Reporter's code: 50101