Syrian rebels enter northern city of Manbij, Turkish source says

ANKARA (Reuters) -Turkey-backed Syrian rebels entered the northern Syrian city of Manbij after taking control of most of the surrounding area from U.S.-allied Kurdish forces there, a Turkish security source said on Sunday.

Syrian rebels in the south declared President Bashar al-Assad's ouster on Sunday after seizing control of Damascus. The Turkey-backed rebels in the north are aligned with the rebels in the south, sharing the same goal of defeating Assad.

"The fight against the YPG/PKK is very close to victory. Both air and land interventions are ongoing to take Manbij from the hands of the YPG/PKK," the source said, referring to the Kurdish militia which has long been in control of Manbij.

The source said the Turkish-backed forces controlled 80% of the Manbij region, an area covering some several hundred square kilometres, and had entered the city itself.

However, the U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish forces, who control northeast Syria and have been the target of several Turkish incursions in the past, said they were still fighting the Turkish-backed rebels in the city.

Manbij city is some 30 km (19 miles) south of the Turkish border and to the west of the Euphrates river.

The Turkey-backed Syrian rebels earlier said they had started an attack on Manbij.

The YPG has been a central element of U.S.-allied forces in a coalition against Islamic State militants. Turkey says the YPG is a terrorist group, closely tied to Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants who have fought the Turkish state for 40 years.

(Reporting by Ece Toksabay; Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by Jonathan Spicer)

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