Bekir Bozdağ
Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ hailed Turkey’s successful diplomatic efforts which ensured patrols by Turkish and U.S. units in Syria’s Manbij and will ultimately lead to the withdrawal of terrorists from the YPG/PYD, the Syrian affiliate of the Kurdistan workers’ Party (PKK).
“Our diplomatic efforts regarding Manbij bearing results show that Turkey is strong both on the field and at the [diplomacy] table. We are currently actualizing a diplomatic solution step by step,” Bozdağ said.
“Turkish and U.S. units have started independent patrols [near Manbij]. After a certain phase, the troops will patrol together. We will ensure the withdrawal of YPG/PYD terrorists together. Technical negotiations regarding the Manbij administration are ongoing,” Bozdağ said.
Turkish Armed Forces in cooperation with U.S. troops on Monday began patrolling the northern Syrian city of Manbij, local sources said.
Joint Turkey-US patrol forces enter Syria's Manbij
“Turkey and the U.S. will jointly decide as to who will be positioned in the local administration. An armed solution is not always the solution, but when we had no choice we did not shy from taking such a step. We have a timeline spanning 90 days,” he added.
"We have a 90 days' timetable. [It schedules] what will be done within a week, in two weeks, in a month, and so on,” Bekir Bozdag told reporters in the central Yozgat province.
"A timetable is set, and as part of that timetable, tasks have begun to be done step by step," Bozdag said.
"While a joint work is carried out to liberate the area from the terrorists, simultaneous efforts for the administration and the security of the region are being addressed and solved," Bozdag said, adding that a new security unit would be established and the city's administration would be handed over to the local people on Manbij.
In accordance with the Manbij Roadmap and Manbij Security Principles, coordinated independent patrol activities by Turkish and U.S. forces began on June 18, along the demarcation line north of Manbij.
"The coordinated patrols are part of the commitment to long-term security and stability in Manbij, and the U.S. commitment to NATO ally Turkey," Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon said.
Turkish units are set to take control over the strategic residential district of Dadat, located 12 kilometers from the Manbij city center in northern Syria, after the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) announced the start of patrols in the city following the withdrawal of terrorists from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)’s Syria affiliate, the YPG, within the scope of the Turkey- U.S. agreement. After ensuring security over the Jarabulus- Manbij axis, Turkish forces are set to enter the Manbij city center. According to military sources, the agreement must be extended to include regions east of the Euphrates River, such as Horozköy, the Qarakozak 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.The Turkish army on Monday announced the start of patrols in Manbij by both countries' troops in line with a previously agreed roadmap for eliminating terrorists and stabilizing the area.'Manbij deal would not exist without Olive Branch op'Turkish, US patrols in Syria's Manbij to continue resolutely: Presidential spoxErdoğan confirms Turkey-US patrols in Syria’s ManbijIn a tweet, the Turkish Armed Forces said that patrols were being carried out between Manbij and Turkey's Operation Euphrates Shield area.The roadmap was first announced after a meeting on June 4 in Washington between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.The deal focuses on the withdrawal of the PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from the northern Syrian city and stability in the region.Should the model prove to be a success, Turkey will push for a similar arrangement in eastern Syria.Turkey has said that the presence of terror forces near its border constitute a threat and has launched military operations and other efforts to rid the region of terrorists.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK has taken some 40,000 lives. The YPG/PYD is its Syrian branch.Video: Joint Turkey-US patrol forces enter Syria's Manbij
First phase of Turkey-US Manbij roadmap becomes clear
The roadmap was first announced after a meeting in Washington on June 4 between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
The deal focuses on the withdrawal of the PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from the northern Syrian city and stability in the region. Should the model prove to be a success, Turkey will push for a similar arrangement in eastern Syria.
Turkey has said the presence of terror forces near its border constitute a threat and has launched military operations and other efforts to rid the region of terrorists.
In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK has taken some 40,000 lives.
The Syrian Turkmen Assembly (STA) Monday welcomed the Manbij roadmap devised by Turkey and the U.S., saying that the deal would not have been reached if Turkey had not launched Operation Olive Branch in Syria's Afrin.STA leader Mohamed Wajih Joma told Anadolu Agency that the Manbij deal would not only clear the region from terrorism but also "help us return our country and it will perhaps constitute a first step of the political settlement in Syria", he added.Joma's words came after Turkish-U.S. forces began patrols earlier Monday in Syria's Manbij in line with a previously agreed roadmap for eliminating terrorists.Turkish, US units begin coordinated patrols near Syria's Manbij: Pentagon"The Manbij deal would not exist without Operation Olive Branch. The U.S, the side supporting the PYD/PKK, kneeled before Turkey's political will and this deal was reached," he added.On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to remove YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists from northwestern Syria's Afrin region. On March 18, Day 58 of the operation, Turkish troops, and Free Syrian Army members liberated the town of Afrin.The existence of a roadmap was first announced after a meeting in Washington earlier this month between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.Video: Joint Turkey-US patrol forces enter Syria's ManbijTurkey has said the presence of terrorist forces near its border constitutes a threat, and has launched military operations and other efforts to rid the region of terrorists.The deal focuses on the withdrawal of the PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from the northern Syrian city in order to stabilize in the region.Should the model prove to be a success, Turkey will push for a similar arrangement in eastern Syria.In its over-30-year terrorist campaign against Turkey, the PKK has taken some 40,000 lives. The YPG/PKK is its Syrian branch.Turkish, US patrols in Syria's Manbij to continue resolutely: Presidential spoxErdoğan confirms Turkey-US patrols in Syria’s ManbijTurkish PM says soldiers began duties in Syria's Manbij
'Manbij deal would not exist without Olive Branch op'
Turkish Presidential Spokesman İbrahim Kalın on Monday said joint patrols launched between Ankara and Washington would ensure Turkey’s national security and protect Syria’s territorial integrity“These efforts will be carried out meticulously and resolutely for the security of our nation and for the territorial integrity of Syria,” Kalın tweeted in response to the Turkish army’s announcement that patrols in Manbij were underway.The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) in cooperation with U.S. troops began patrolling the northern Syrian city of Manbij on Monday.Video: Joint Turkey-US patrol forces enter Syria's ManbijThe roadmap was first announced after a meeting in Washington last week between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.The deal focuses on the withdrawal of PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from the northern Syrian city and stability in the region.Should the model prove to be a success, Turkey will push for a similar arrangement in eastern Syria.Erdoğan confirms Turkey-US patrols in Syria’s ManbijIn its over-30-year terrorist campaign against Turkey, the PKK has taken some 40,000 lives. The YPG/PKK is its Syrian branch.Turkey has said the presence of terrorist forces near its border constitute a threat, and has launched military operations and other efforts to rid the region of terrorists.Turkish PM says soldiers began duties in Syria's Manbij
Turkish, US patrols in Syria's Manbij to continue resolutely: Presidential spox
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday confirmed Turkish Armed Forces in cooperation with U.S. troops had begun patrolling the northern Syrian city of Manbij.Erdoğan’s remarks came during his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party’s election rally in the Black Sea province of Samsun.Armored vehicles belonging to the Turkish army were stationed around Sajur river which runs through the town of Jarabulus, in the area where Operation Euphrates Shield took place, and Manbij.Operation Euphrates Shield, which began in August 2016 and ended in March 2017, was aimed at eliminating the terrorist threat along the Turkish border with the use of the Free Syrian Army, backed by Turkish artillery and air cover.Video: Joint Turkey-US patrol forces enter Syria's ManbijThe joint forces carried out patrols in an area overlooking the U.S. base in Syria's town of Dadat.The patrols, in line with a roadmap devised by the U.S. and Turkey on the issue of Manbij, lasted around three hours.Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim also confirmed the launch of the joint patrols during a meeting with civil society representatives in Istanbul.“As of today, our soldiers have also begun their duty in Manbij. They are working with the U.S. to liberate Manbij from terrorist elements,” Yildirim said.Turkish PM says soldiers began duties in Syria's ManbijAt a news briefing on the issue, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said: "[Turkish forces] have also started entering Manbij. The YPG [terrorists] will be repelled from Manbij."Cavusoglu said the goal was to implement the previously agreed roadmap first in Manbij and then to continue in other cities."We aim to repel YPG [terrorists] from all areas they control and to stabilize these areas," Cavusoglu said, adding that the final goal was to leave these areas to the residents.Meanwhile, presidential aide Ibrahim Kalin tweeted: “For the safety of our country and the territorial integrity of Syria, these efforts will be continued with diligence and determination.Turkish, US patrols in Syria's Manbij to continue resolutely: Presidential spoxThe National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces on Monday welcomed the launch of U.S. and Turkish patrols in Manbij in line with the June 4 agreement between the two countries.In a statement, national coalition leader Abdurrahman Mustafa described the move as “an important step towards ensuring stability in liberated areas, repatriating displaced persons, and safeguarding the area from terrorist groups”.The existence of a roadmap was first announced after a meeting in Washington last week between Cavusoglu and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.Turkey has said the presence of terrorist forces near its border constitute a threat, and has launched military operations and other efforts to rid the region of terrorists.The deal focuses on the withdrawal of the PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from the northern Syrian city in order to stabilize in the region.Should the model prove to be a success, Turkey will push for a similar arrangement in eastern Syria.In its over-30-year terrorist campaign against Turkey, the PKK has taken some 40,000 lives. The YPG/PKK is its Syrian branch.
Erdoğan confirms Turkey-US patrols in Syria’s Manbij