Syrian Army enters Manbij as major battle for the city begins

The Syrian Army has entered the strategic northern city of Manbij amid an escalating Syrian-Turkish stand-off in the region that has now seen the latter employ its proxies to drive government forces from the town.
According to the official Syrian state media channel SANA, the Syrian Army entered Manbij minutes ago and began establishing points in the city at the request of local militia groups which recently chose to make an alliance with government forces.
This event comes as the countryside  to the north and west of Manbij is witnessing a battle between Turkish-backed militants and the Syrian Army and allied pro-government local fighters.
The situation at the front remains unknown with early unconfirmed reports that Russian warplanes have begun to circle above the positions of Turkish-backed groups.