Turkish-backed forces have besieged the Islamic State-held city of al-Bab. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during a speech in Ankara, said the forces would continue with Turkey’s backing until the Islamic State and Kurdish militias are driven out from Syria’s border areas, revealing the next objective would be the city of Manbij – where Kurdish forces backed by the US-led coalition have liberated the city from Islamic State rule several months ago. “We have reached al-Bab. We have surrounded and besieged al-Bab from the west. But this will not be enough. From there we will move to Manbij. Why will we go there? Not because we are keen but PYD (Democratic Union Party) and YPG (People’s Protection Units) are there. They should leave and move to east,” said Erdogan, who views the Syrian Kurdish militias as hostile forces seeking to establish a state on a
