Turkey, backed by the Syrian National Army, began a major military operation east of the Euphrates River on Wednesday against Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which dominates the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and controls large areas of northern and northeastern Syria.

What military forces are on the ground?

Members of the Syrian National Army after taking control of a village in Ras al-Ain area in the Syrian province of Hasaka (Anatolia)

Turkey and its loyal factions:
Turkey announced that the military operation, dubbed the "spring of peace", aims to keep the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara classifies as "terrorist", from its borders to create a safe zone with a depth of 30 kilometers to return a large part of the 3.6 million Syrians who took refuge in its territory.

Military forces outnumber Kurdish fighters and rely on heavy artillery and air strikes.

Syrian pro-Ankara factions preempted the start of the offensive by announcing earlier this month their merger with other opposition factions active in the province of Idlib (northwest Syria) under the name of "Syrian National Army."

The number of this group - according to a spokesman - about 18 thousand trained fighters and financiers from Ankara.

A number of these factions have fought Syrian regime forces in recent years. Recently, some participated in clashes against Idlib province.

However, as the conflict developed and branched out, these factions became primarily involved in Turkish-led operations, including the offensive against Kurdish fighters that ended in the takeover of the Afrin region (northwest of Aleppo) in 2018.

These factions participate today under the command of Turkish forces in the attack on areas controlled by the forces of "Democratic Syria".

The correspondent of the French Press Agency watched these fighters with medium and heavy machine guns as they crossed into the areas of control of the forces of "Democratic Syria" accompanied by Turkish forces.

Members of the "Syrian Democratic Forces" as they prepare to fight in the city of Ras al-Ain (European)

Forces "Democratic Syria"
It was founded in October 2015 as a result of an alliance of Kurdish and Arab factions as well as Syrian and Turkmen fighters.

Its formation came after the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which are their backbone, managed to win several victories in their fight against ISIS. It has lost, according to estimates, 11 thousand of its fighters as a result of the battles against him during the past years.

They are receiving US military support, and some have undergone training by the Washington-led international coalition.

After Turkey threatened months ago to launch an attack in Syria, Washington reached an agreement with Ankara to establish a safe area. In accordance with the agreement, groups of Kurdish units withdrew from border points, according to the so-called Kurdish self-administration, which formed local military councils in all border cities.

Several factions are currently participating in the forces of "Democratic Syria", including Kurdish units and local councils, in the battles to repel the progress of Turkish forces.

A spokesman for the "Syrian Democratic" forces that the Syriac fighters will also be deployed in the border area. They sent reinforcements to the border from the Deir Ezzor area in the east.

A AFP reporter on the front lines saw fighters from the "Syrian Democratic Forces" using light weapons and rocket-propelled grenade launchers, despite having advanced equipment they had obtained from the United States to fight the former Islamic State.

Veteran Kurdish fighters have called on Washington to impose an air embargo on the region, which could help them counter the military superiority of Turkish troops and warplanes.

Turkish and US military participating in joint patrols in northeast Syria (Getty Images)

Americans
The United States has about 2,000 troops in northeastern Syria in support of Kurdish fighters against ISIS. They are deployed in several bases and points in both the border area and other areas, including Deir Ezzor (east).

On Monday, between 50 and 100 troops withdrew from border posts by a decision by US President Donald Trump, which was seen as a green light for Turkey to launch its offensive.

Trump had previously announced his intention to withdraw all of his troops from Syria, something that has yet to materialize.
French and British soldiers are deployed in the US-led international coalition in the region as well, and there is no clear census for them.