TURKISH proxy forces clashed with Kurdish militia near Manbij in Syria yesterday after Ankara confirmed the northern town in Aleppo province was its next target.

Free Syrian Army factions in the Turkish military Euphrates Shield invasion claimed to have seized two villages from People’s Protection Units (YPG) militia south-west of Manbij.

Earlier Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed assertions by an adviser on Monday that the invasion force would attempt to drive the Kurds from all the territory west of the Euphrates river that they liberated from Isis last year.