Turkey proposes using Arabs in SDF and FSA for Raqqa and Manbij

Turkey has proposed using a collaboration of Arab elements from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Free Syrian Army (FSA) in an offensive on Raqqa and the administration of the Manbij region in Syria, a formula which would exclude the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG).
"The Arab elements of the SDF should learn to cooperate with the Free Syrian Army. We want the Arab elements of the SDF and the FSA to establish a joint administration in Manbij. These Arabs should act together in a military offensive towards Raqqa, too," a senior Turkish official told Hürriyet Daily News.

The official said the U.S. did not object to the proposal, but stressed the outcome of the practice should be seen on the ground. "Disintegration" within the SDF was inevitable, since Arab elements approached the group out of "desperation," the official said. "They go towards where they feel secure, comfortable, where they can meet their needs. If they achieve these with the FSA, they will work with them," the official added.

Meanwhile, the Mosul and Raqqa offensives were on the agenda of talks with of U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken in Ankara on Sept. 28.

Ankara once more told Blinken it would not be part of the operation if YPG forces took part in the offensive. Ankara told the U.S. official that Raqqa was an Arab town and an offensive with 8000 Kurdish fighters into the town carried the risk of inflaming an ethnic fight, according to the official.

Turkey and FSA work to establish hold force before al-Bab operation

As part of the visit by the U.S. delegation chaired by Blinken to Ankara, the official said the first "military-to-military" talks regarding planned military operations on Syria's Raqqa...