Turkish army completes third round of patrols in Manbij
A Turkish Foreign Ministry official on Monday dismissed a news report claiming complete withdrawal of PYD/YPG terrorist organization from Syria’s northeastern Manbij city.
“We find it exaggerated the news claiming PYD/YPG has fully withdrawn from Manbij,” said the official, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.
The official said the process is ongoing, referring to patrols conducted in the region by Turkish and the U.S. troops separately, which started on June 18.
“Withdrawal from the control zones on the patrol route is ongoing,” the Foreign Ministry official said, adding that the preparations for joint patrol continued.
“So, the news saying that the PYD/YPG has fully withdrawn from the region doesn’t reflect the truth,” the official added.
The last terrorists from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)'s Syrian affiliate, the PYD/YPG, left the northern town of Manbij had said earlier on Sunday, the terror group occupying the town said, fulfilling a longstanding Turkish demand that the YPG withdraw.
Turkey objects to the presence of PKK/YPG in Syria near its border.
A deal was reached between Ankara and Washington in early June, which focused on the withdrawal of the YPG terror group from the city in order to stabilize the region.
The PYD/YPG is the Syrian branch of the PKK terror group, which has waged a campaign against Turkey for over a decade resulting in the death of 40,000 people, including women and children.
The U.S. has supported the PKK/PYD along with several other terrorist groups under the umbrella of the SDF, causing tension with Ankara.
The Turkish army on Saturday completed its 14th round of patrols in the northern Syrian city of Manbij as part of a deal with the U.S. to rid the area of the terror group YPG/PKK.Turkish and U.S. forces conduct separate coordinated patrols in the region between areas liberated by Turkey's Operation Euphrates Shield and Manbij.The first patrols by Turkish and U.S. troops in the region began on June 18.Video: Joint Turkey-US patrol forces enter Syria's ManbijThe Manbij deal between Turkey and the U.S. focuses on the withdrawal of the PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from the city in order to stabilize the region.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK has taken some 40,000 lives, including many women and children. The YPG/PKK is its Syrian branch.Should the Manbij model prove a success, Turkey will push for a similar arrangement in eastern Syria.Turkey has said the presence of terror forces near its border constitutes a threat and has launched military operations and other efforts to rid the region of terrorists.
Turkish army conducts 14th round of patrols in Manbij
The Turkey-U.S. Joint Working Group met on Friday in Ankara to discuss "judicial and legal issues" according to a Foreign Ministry statement."Turkish and American officials from all relevant ministries and departments came together and held substantial discussions on judicial and legal matters important to both sides," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.The ministry said progress was expected on issues discussed during the joint working group meeting.Following a visit by former U.S. Secretary of State RexTillerson to Ankara in February, Turkey and the U.S. established a mechanism to address separate issues in working groups, including the stabilization of Manbij, a northern Syrian city, and to prevent undesirable clashes.The Fetullah Terror Organization (FETÖ), visa issues and jailed US citizens in Turkey were among major topics discussed in working groups.The first working group was held on March 8, in which the main principles of potential cooperation of Turkey and the U.S. were termed "constructive".
Turkey-US working group meets in Ankara