One rebel at the border told the BBC the number was as high as 1,500 fighters.The latest developments have thrust the town into the spotlight of the ongoing Syrian civil war. He declined to comment on whether the SDF would send fighters to the town, but an SDF statement said the Syrian Kurdish force was ``prepared to defend the country against any plans for a direct or indirect occupation. ''Abdel-Sattar al-Jader was shot by unknown gunmen late Monday, an hour after he accused Turkey of mobilizing fighters and ``terrorists'' for an assault on Jarablus. There was no immediate comment from Turkey. Haj Mansour said two suspects were in custody but declined to comment on their identities.The Kurds' outsized role in the Syrian civil war is a source of concern for the Syrian government as well.

Source: Times of India August 24, 2016 05:26 UTC