Earlier, a Sputnik correspondent reported that Syrian Army units had deployed near Manbij in a bid to prevent a possible Turkish military operation in the Syrian Kurdish-controlled area.
About 400 Syrian Kurdish YPG militants left Manbij in 30 vehicles since January 1 after reaching an agreement with Damascus to withdraw from the area, the Syrian Defence Ministry has announced in a press statement.
According to the Defence Ministry, the militia units left Manbij for the east bank of the Euphrates River.
The Defence Ministry released a video showing the Kurdish forces' withdrawal on its Facebook page.