Roundup: IS falls back as Turkey-backed rebels storm Jarablus city in northern Syria

The Islamic State (IS) fighters withdrew from several villages around Syria's city of Jarablus, as the Turkish-backed Syrian rebels captured areas near that city on Wednesday, Saudi-funded al-Arabiya TV reported, as other reports stated that the rebels have actually stormed the city and reached its center.

The IS' withdrawal came as Syrian rebels, covered by Turkish tanks and special forces, as well as air backing from the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition, reached the outskirts of the city of Jarablus, as part of Turkish double-purpose operation, which aims at clearing the city from the IS and let Syrian rebels fill in the void before the Kurdish fighters could capture the city, near the Turkish borders.

Some reports said the Turkey-backed rebels have actually started storming Jarablus, reaching its central section.

Earlier in the day, Turkish tanks, special forces, as well as Syria rebels crossed the Syrian borders toward the city of Jarablus, an IS stronghold near Turkey.

Some observers here believe fighting the IS was not the priority of Turkey, saying that Ankara fears the advance of Kurdish forces in northern Syria toward Jarablus, their next declared goal.

Turkey, which has more than 20 million Kurds in its southern region, has long opposed any expansion of Kurdish influence near its border, fearing the threat to its territorial integrity.

The Turkey-backed operation started at dawn Wednesday, named the Euphrates Shield.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the operation aims to curb the threats of the terrorist groups, targeting the IS and the Kurdish fighters, who are deemed by Turkey as terrorists.

The timing of the operation comes as the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) and the allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have made sweeping advance against the IS in northern Syria, near Turkey.

Their latest victory was in the town of Mnabej, when they drove out the IS, depriving the terror group of that key town near Turkey.

Moreover, the Kurds also attacked several Syrian government positions in the northeastern city of Hasakah, which has been divided in control between the government and the YPG.

Under the mediation of Russia, a second truce succeeded to hold on Tuesday, but only after the Syrian government reportedly approved a previously-denied Kurdish request, which was the dissolve of pro-government militia, called the National Defense Forces (NDF), from Hasakah.

The NDF and the Kurdish security forces, known as Assayish, have had several tensions that developed into battles before.

Still, the Kurdish forces backed by the U.S. have proved to be a hard nut to crack, which raised the ire and fears of Turkey, pushing it to hasten its intervention on Wednesday.

But the twist of events is that the Kurds are supported by the U.S., but so do the Syrian rebels who reached Jarablus, the Kurds' next target after capturing Manbej a couple of weeks ago.

Observers believe Washington and Ankara have reached an agreement to release the Turkish fears of growing Kurdish influence near its backdoor, which is granting the Turkey-backed rebels access to Jarablus and having a control in that area.

Maher Ihsan, a Syrian journalist and political researcher, said that "the U.S. policy has always been about supporting all parties against all parties with the aim of making all parties weak to some extent."

"In the Turkish case, the Turkish fears are all about the Kurdish making of their state that stretches from the city of Qamishli in the countryside of Haskah all the way to reach areas under their control in the northern province of Aleppo, and Jarablus lies in the middle of their way, so capturing it will connect all of their areas together, something Turkey wouldn't want."

"So America plays on both parties, by allowing the Kurds to advance against the government in Hasakah, and by granting the Turks access to Jarablus," he added.

For its part, the Syrian government, while denouncing the Turkish intervention in the northern region, also has been annoyed by the tension the Kurds have fomented in Hasakah.

The YPG and other Kurdish militant groups have been assuming positions in Hasakah since 2012.

At the time, there were reports about a tacit agreement between the Kurds and the Syrian government.

But recently, tension was reported on several occasions there, after the Kurds started having extra demands.

For the government, analysts say, striking the Kurdish project in creating their autonomous rule in northern Syria is positive, but it's not okay with Turkey intervening with rebels it's supporting to take over.

In a statement Wednesday, the Syrian government said that any anti-terrorism effort must be coordinated with the Syrian government, describing the Turkish intervention as a "flagrant violation" of Syrian sovereignty.

It urged the United Nations to invoke all of its resolutions about the need to end the "Turkish aggression."

It said the Turkish aim of entering Jarablus was not to fight the IS terrorists, and that the move was another manifestation of terrorism, as Turkey is substituting "one terror group with another."

The ministry was referring to Turkey-backed Syrian rebels who have crossed the borders with Turkish forces. Endit