Manbij: With the entry of the National Army factions… the city’s residents issue a statement of complaint against thefts and violations

The “Revolution Trustees” Council in the city of Manbij issued a statement warning the military factions that entered the city against the violations and looting operations that are affecting the city.

Moments after the fall of the regime, the residents went out in celebrations of the fall of the regime, coinciding with a coup within the Manbij Military Council against the presence of the council affiliated with the SDF in the city.

Bloody clashes erupted between the two parties, coinciding with the attack of the Turkish-backed National Army factions on three fronts of the city, which later led to the withdrawal of the Manbij Military Council from the city.

During the clashes, many violations occurred inside the city, including looting, theft and robbery that continued for several days. News spread on social media about targeting the Kurdish component inside the city and looting its property, but ASO News Network was unable to verify the information accurately.

The military factions had published a statement on December 9th stating that they had taken control of the city and that they would withdraw from it and hand it over to the military and civilian police. It seems that they did not withdraw, and this was confirmed by the statement issued by the “Revolution Trustees” Council, which ASONews Network reviewed.

Pictures spread on social media showing the looting of the Manla Ghazil Library in Manbij, which is considered one of the largest libraries in the region and contains a large collection of cultural, historical, religious and scientific books, by unknown groups. Many civilian homes were looted as well.

The statement of the “Revolution Trustees” Council stated, “After many violations committed by many military factions that entered the city of Manbij, including thefts and attacks on public and private funds and many other violations, we endured and waited for the implementation of the decision of the Fajr al-Hurriya Operations Room, which stipulates the factions’ exit from the city to the fronts, but nothing has changed and the thefts and violations continue. Our preoccupation with these great matters has made us not think about service affairs and choosing competent representatives for the Manbij Local Council. Therefore, we give all military and security forces a deadline to control the city within 24 hours, otherwise we will start a campaign of demonstrations and then strikes that will push you all out of the city.”

The city has witnessed a succession of different authorities, starting with the regime, then the Free Army, then ISIS, then the SDF, and finally the factions of the National Army supported by Turkey.

*The picture is of the Manla Ghazil Library in Manbij, source: social media pages