The news agency cited a source from Peshmerga forces in Duhok near the Kurdistan Region border territory who spoke under condition of anonymity for security reasons.

According to the Peshmerga source the transfer of the armored vehicles occurred late on Monday, April 9, and kept under strict surveillance.

The vehicles with American flags displayed, were expected to first arrive in the Kurdish town of Qamishlo in northern Syria then to be transferred to Manbij.

Turkey-led forces last month seized control of the Kurdish enclave of Afrin to the west of Manbij after a two-month assault that killed dozens of civilians and displaced tens of thousands of civilians.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned that Turkey could extend the Afrin offensive to Manbij.

Unlike Afrin, there is a U.S. military presence in Manbij and any confrontation between the two NATO allies would mark a major escalation.

Reporter’s code: 50101