Syrian army deploys to Manbij in new alliance with Kurds

The Syrian army deployed forces near Manbij in northern Syria after a plea from Kurdish YPG militia.

Syrian woman with her kids walks in front of buildings destroyed during fighting in Manbij. Source: AAP

Syrian troops deployed in support of Kurdish forces around a strategic northern city on Friday, in a shift of alliances hastened by last week's announcement of a US military withdrawal.

Nearly eight years into Syria's deadly conflict, the move marked another key step in President Bashar al-Assad's Russian-backed drive to reassert control over the country.

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