It is difficult to estimate precisely how many Kurdish fighters have withdrawn. The Syrian Democratic Forces number about 50,000 Kurdish and Arab fighters throughout eastern and northern Syria, U.S. military officials have said. As of two weeks ago, Kurdish officials said more than 20,000 Kurdish defenders had rallied to Afrin to confront Turkish troops. As late as Feb. 8, there were still SDF forces in Deir el-Zour, according to the coalition, which bombed pro-Syrian regime forces who had attacked an SDF base and its U.S. advisers there. Some of the SDF and Manbij council leaders expressed disappointment with U.S. forces for not preventing last month’s Turkish attack on Afrin.

Source: thestar February 28, 2018 21:22 UTC