Turkey-backed Syrian fighters take part in military exercises – in pictures

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has renewed threats of a military offensive in northern Syria

A Turkey-backed Syrian fighter takes part in a military exercise in a rebel-held area of Aleppo province. All photos by AFP

A rocket-propelled grenade is fired during the exercise near the north-western city of Afrin, about 40 kilometres from the border with Turkey.

Fighters study a map during the operation in north-west Syria.

Syrian fighters prepare to hold a military parade in Afrin.

Turkey has said it plans to launch an operation against a Kurdish militia in Syria that it considered to a terrorist group.

A convoy of Turkey-backed Syrian fighters travels through the countryside in the rebel-held Aleppo.

Syrian fighters participate in a military parade.

Turkey-backed Syrian fighters parade with their weapons in the countryside of the northwestern city of Afrin, in rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on June 1, 2022. - Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan renewed threats of a military offensive in northern Syria, which he said would target Kurdish "terrorists". (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP)

Fighters gather in Manbij, Aleppo, one of the areas that Turkey plans to target in its incursion.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said his government also wants to rid the Tal Rifaat area of terrorists.

There has been an increase in violence near Turkey's border with Syria since Turkey announced its plans.

Turkey-backed fighters take part in a military exercise near Manbij city.

The US has urged Turkey not to carry out its operation against the Kurdish YPG militia.

Washington says an incursion into Syria will increase the number of people displaced by conflict, with some likely to cross into Turkey.

Turkey-backed forces arrive in Manbij to take part in the exercise.

Turkey considers the YPG, which forms part of the Syrian Defence Forces, to be a national security threat.

The National