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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - New Turkish military reinforcements arrived in the southern province of Sanliurfa on Sunday.

The reinforcements included artillery and tankers and trucks laden with weapons and ammunition.

Turkey has been reinforcing its military presence on the border since Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has signaled that Ankara will soon launch a cross-border operation against the Kurdish YPG.

Last week, the Syrian army deployed forces near Manbij in northern Syria after the YPG urged Damascus to protect the town from the threat of a Turkish offensive.

Sources on Tuesday told Al Arabiya English that there were sporadic clashes between military forces in Manbij and pro-Ankara factions near the Manbij area.

The Turkish army, and other Syrian opposition forces supported by Ankara, are continuing their preparation to enter Manbij, despite an announcement from the Syrian Democratic Forces (which was founded by the YPG) to hand over the city to Syrian regime forces.

Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump has “ordered a slowdown” of the previously announced withdrawal of roughly 2,000 US troops from Syria, Republican senator Lindsey Graham had said.

Turkey considers the US-backed YPG as an offshoot of the PKK which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

“I think we’re in a pause situation,” the South Carolina Republican said outside the White House after lunch with the president.

* Agencies