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As terrorists from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)’s Syrian affiliate, the YPG, begin withdrawing from the northern city of Manbij, the details of the roadmap brokered between Turkey and the U.S. continue to unfold.
According to military sources, the agreement must be extended to include regions east of the Euphrates River, such as Horozköy, the Karakozak bridge area of Sirrin and the Tishreen Dam, a crucial source of water and electricity, all of which must be placed under Turkey’s control.
In order to ensure security in Manbij and the Euphrates Shield region, the safe zone is expected to encapsulate the city’s geographical borders.
Weapons that were supplied to terrorists from the PKK/YPG will be taken back as they withdraw from the city within the scope of the Manbij roadmap agreement between the U.S. and Turkey, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Tuesday.
Turkey remains determined to eradicate terrorism “completely”, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Tuesday.Speaking at a campaign rally for ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party in northwestern Zonguldak province, Erdogan said: “We are determined to erase terror completely from the agenda of this country.“We do not expect terrorism to turn up on our doors; we are going to the source of terrorism before it comes to us.”The president said Turkey’s anti-terror operations over the past two years had weakened terror groups.Hundreds of terrorists inside and outside of Turkey’s borders had "ceased to be a threat," he added.The Turkish president also said that after the Afrin operation, Turkey continued to take “necessary steps to defeat other terrorist swamps”.On March 18, Turkish-backed troops liberated the town center of Afrin in northern Syria, which had been a major hideout for the YPG/PKK terror group since 2012.The operation was part of Turkey's Operation Olive Branch which was launched in January to clear terrorist groups from the area. After liberating the city of Afrin, Ankara said it might also extend its operation further east to Manbij, unless the YPG/PKK terrorist group leaves the strategically located city.Turkish minister: PKK damaged over 70,000 houses in SEYPG terrorists to be disarmed, withdraw from Manbij: FM ÇavuşoğluTerrorists to 'pay price'Erdoğan added the successful anti-terror operations were all conducted despite opposition from Republican People’s Party and its leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, and its presidential candidate Muharrem Ince.“We will let all terrorists who are responsible -- especially their ringleaders -- pay the price for murdering the children of this nation over the past 34 years,” he said.“If needed we will go to Sinjar and do what is necessary,” he added.In late 2015, Peshmerga forces captured Iraq's Sinjar from the Daesh terrorist group, which had overrun the district a year earlier.However, PKK elements have also remained in Sinjar since 2014 on the pretext of fighting Daesh.Erdogan, for his part, has repeatedly said Turkey would not allow Sinjar to become a PKK stronghold.In its more than 30-year terrorist campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the death of nearly 40,000 people.More than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians, including women and children, have been killed since July 2015 alone, when the terror group resumed its armed campaign against Turkey.
Erdoğan vows to eradicate terrorism 'completely'
Invaders to be withdrawn
According to the approved roadmap, all attempts by the PKK/PYD to alter the demographic make-up in the city will be foiled.
In the context of the agreement reached between the U.S. and Turkey, families that were brought to Manbij will return to their own regions following the withdrawal of the PKK from the city.
The status quo in Manbij, which was predominantly Arab, is set to return to what it was prior to the arrival of PKK terrorists in the city, thanks to a Turkey- U.S. agreement similar to the one that was previously brokered between Turkey, Iran and Russia to ensure security in the northwestern city of Idlib.
Observation points will also be established in Manbij and its vicinity as part of the approved roadmap, which includes the withdrawal of 3rd parties, in addition to PKK terrorists, including French soldiers that are also present in the city.
With the establishment of observation points, security will be ensured together with the local administration and the to-be-formed police force.
While Turkey will never accept the presence of PKK or any similar groups in Manbij, the U.S. does not look too kindly on the Free Syrian Army (FSA) either.
The U.S. wants to form a police force in Manbij that is formed of Arabs within the ranks of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is a front for the PKK, however, Turkey wants to make sure that the to-be-established force will be completely made up of local elements.
The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. The PKK has been conducting armed violence in the southeastern part of Turkey since 1984. More than 40,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the three-decade long conflict.
Senior officials from the U.S. State Department on Tuesday said the aim of a roadmap drawn up by Ankara and Washington is to stabilize the Syrian city of Manbij. The officials gave details via a teleconference call to reporters in Washington of the meeting between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and his American counterpart Mike Pompeo held on Monday.Avoiding a clear response on the specifics of the roadmap timeframe, the officials noted it would proceed step by step and hoped that necessary steps would be taken as soon as possible as the NATO ally Turkey also desires it.Emphasizing that the purpose of the roadmap is to clear Manbij from the terrorists and to ensure the security and stability of the city, Cavusoglu on Monday said the roadmap would be implemented in three stages, which would focus on the removal of YPG/PKK forces from Manbij, the removal of YPG/PKK affiliated individuals from local governing organizations, and the establishment of joint U.S.-Turkish patrols and a new local governing administration based on the local population.Following a visit by former U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to Ankara in February, Turkey and the U.S. established a mechanism to address separate issues in working groups, including the stabilization of Manbij and to prevent any undesirable clashes.The first meeting of the working group on Syria was held on March 8-9 in Washington.Officials during the conference call also said the YPG/PKK would withdraw to the eastern side of the Euphrates river.About the outcome of the PKK-affiliated YPG withdrawing from Manbij, officials said everyone would benefit from this process because the goal is to defuse tension and stabilize the region.US presence in Manbij 'subject to political discussion'"The idea behind this is not for the U.S. or Turkey to take over Manbij," they added. "The idea is for the people of Manbij to reassert their leadership over both governance and security structures there."In addition, officials also said the purpose of the deal is to not hand over the city to Turkey or the U.S., it is for the local people to be able to establish their own leadership and ensure their security.It is important that much of the Manbij Military Council is made up of local Arabs and it will remain as it is and cooperate with Turks so that Turks will be more comfortable in the process of making long-term adjustments, the officials added.If the Manbij issue was resolved, it would address part of a major issue dividing Ankara and Washington. Turkey has long objected to U.S. support for the terrorist PYD/PKK, the target of Turkey’s recent Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, Syria.The YPG/PKK and PYD/PKK are Syrian offshoots of the PKK terror group, which has taken some 40,000 lives in its 30-year terrorist campaign against the Turkish state, including those of women and children.
Joint roadmap for Manbij is for stabilization: US
The U.S. presence in the Syrian city of Manbij is now subject to "political discussion and policy determination", an anti-Daesh coalition spokesperson said on Tuesday while referring to a roadmap drawn up by Ankara and Washington to stabilize the city.Speaking through video conference, CJTF-Operation Inherent Resolve Public Affairs Director Col. Thomas Veale said: "Coalition troops have been there for quite some time and they are conducting security operations."They are not forward presence. This is not like the Korean Demilitarized Zone...Future of that mission, again, that's subject to political discussion and policy determination."Noting that there there has not been any operational changes in Manbij, Veale said the coalition is a conditions-based organization which accords with conditions on the ground.Many U.S. officials, including head of CJTF-Operation Inherent Resolve Paul E. Funk, have repeatedly said the U.S. will not withdraw from Manbij.However, Veale's remark came a day after Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and his American counterpart Mike Pompeo met and affirmed that a joint Manbij-focused roadmap shows a drastic shift over its policy on Manbij.Stating that the results of the roadmap drawn up by the two countries have yet to be understood, Veale noted that the U.S. acknowledges the valid security concern of Turkey, which is a coalition member and a valued NATO partner."So working closely with them through these discussions is exactly the right approach to this issue," he added.Emphasizing that the purpose of the roadmap is to clear Manbij from terrorists and ensure the security and stability of the city, Cavusoglu said the roadmap would be implemented in three stages, which would focus on the removal of YPG/PKK forces from Manbij, the removal of YPG/PKK affiliated individuals from local governing organizations, and establishing joint U.S.-Turkish patrols and a new local governing administration based on the local population.It is important that much of the Manbij Military Council is made up of local Arabs and it will remain as it is and cooperate with Turks so that Turks will be more comfortable in the process of making long-term adjustments, the officials added.Clash erupts between PKK, Hashd al-Shaabi in IraqErdoğan vows to eradicate terrorism 'completely'If the Manbij issue gets resolved, it would address part of a major issue dividing Ankara and Washington. Turkey has for long objected to U.S. support for the terrorist PYD/PKK, the target of Turkey’s recent Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, Syria.About claims the U.S. has also deployed troops near Sinjar in northern Iraq, Veale refuted the claims, saying that the military convoy just passed through the region on its way to Syria.About his response to Turkey's military operations against the PKK terrorist organization in northern Iraq, Veale noted the operations have been conducted in a close cooperation with Iraqi government.The YPG/PKK and PYD/PKK are Syrian offshoots of the PKK terror group, which has taken some 40,000 lives in its 30-year terrorist campaign against the Turkish state, including those of women and children.
US presence in Manbij 'subject to political discussion'