Turkey sends reinforcements to Syria’s Manbij
The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) have accelerated the deployment of military reinforcements to Syria’s Manbij region, which the army is preparing to clear from terror elements. As part of the deal struck between Ankara and Washington, the withdrawal of the PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from the northern Syrian city is due to begin on Wednesday.
If the terrorists do not start to withdraw from Manbij, Turkish troops will increase the pressure. The decision to increase military reinforcements was made following a visit by Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar to military brigades stationed on the border with Syria.
The number of armored vehicles that have been dispatched around the Saju-Dadad region over the past 24 hours has exceeded 30. Communication and logistic equipment are also being dispatched.
Local residents in the northern Syrian city of Manbij have told Anadolu Agency they want Turkish troops to clear their land of YPG/PKK terrorism.The Turkish military recently completed its eighth round of patrolling in the city.Displaced by YPG/PKK terrorist group in Syria's north and in the west of River Euphrates, people of Manbij said they hope to return to their homes after Turkish troops took control of the strategic district.Turkey and the U.S. have set a three-month timetable to complete tasks they agreed in a deal on Syria's Manbij, a Turkish government spokesman said in mid-June.The Manbij deal focuses on the withdrawal of the PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from the northern Syrian city and stability in the region.Mahmoud al-Ajlani, a well-known tribe member in Manbij, told Anadolu Agency: "Hopefully our lands will be wiped off from terrorists PYD/PKK"."With Turkey, trust and stability will come to Manbij. We will get rid of [YPG/PKK] cancer that ruled nearly half-a-million people by force," he said.Al-Ajlani added that after PYD/PKK's defeat, the region will be ruled by civilian authorities, serving people and giving importance to education, health and building hospitals."Manbij will set an example for all of Syria," he said.Ibrahim Hajji, a member of the Assembly of Syrian Tribes and Clans, said locals are waiting for Turkish troops to clear the area of terrorists."Peace and stability will come to our lands," al-Hacci said. "We will support civilian management in Manbij, as we had held meetings in Turkey with other locals."The city has remained under the terror group's control since Daesh was driven out from the region in August 2016.
Manbij locals urge Turkish troops to save them from YPG
U.S. seeking to slow down Manbij deal
Mohamad Sermini, who recently visited Manbij on behalf of the Syrian opposition, shared the latest developments with Yeni Şafak daily.
“The Manbij Local Council is slowing down political and military steps. The U.S. is seeking to slow down this process. The locals will not accept a project for safety and security unless Turkey is involved,” Sermini said.
“Turkey will not compromise on its stance for a Manbij without the PKK”
“The expectations of the locals are high because Turkey is in the region. The possible operation will not resemble Operation Euphrates Shield. The parties agreed on a project based on co-management, but the problem of the existence of the PKK in this management model hasn’t been overcome as of yet. Turkey's stance on this issue is very clear. Turkey prepared a list of those who will be in the military and local government councils. The U.S. is acting slowly regarding its actualization. Problems may arise in the upcoming period regarding this list, because Turkey will not compromise on its stance for a Manbij without the PKK,” Sermini said.
Manbij locals trust Turkey
“First the Daesh and then the PKK occupation tired the locals of Manbij. They trust Turkey the most regarding their future. They do not want a puppet assembly. They want an infrastructure that reflects their own wills and is composed of locals. PKK ‘flags,’ posters and so forth were taken down across the region. The U.S. is trying to persuade the PKK to quietly withdraw from the region. Everyone is aware that the period is critical. It may take time for the PKK members identified by Turkey to withdraw from councils,” he added.
U.S. Senators pledge support to terror groups in Manbij
Following the Manbij deal struck between Ankara and Washington, U.S. officials visited the city. Following a visit by Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) General Joseph Votel, a delegation of senators met with Manbij Local Council dominated by the PKK’s Qandil cadre.
Senior Republican U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham and Senator Jeanne Shaheen paid a visit to the northern Syrian town of Manbij.
“I will tell President [Donald] Trump it’s important that we stay here to help you. You’re friends of the United States and if we leave, it will be terrible,” Graham said during his visit on Monday.
Turkey and the United States reach an agreement on Manbij in Syria. It focuses on the withdrawal of PKK-linked YPG from the city, and empowering local government.
Turkey and United States agree on Manbij roadmap
Locals want Turkey’s involvement
“Turkey has become a safe haven for thousands of Manbij locals after the presence of Daesh and the PKK in the region. Any option without Turkey’s involvement does not promise stability,” Sermini concluded.
Displaced by the YPG/PKK terrorist group in Syria's north and in the west of River Euphrates, the people of Manbij said that they hope to return to their homes after Turkish troops took control of the strategic city.
Turkey and the U.S. have set a three-month timetable to complete the tasks they agreed in a deal on Syria's Manbij, a Turkish government spokesman said in mid-June.
The Turkish military on Monday completed its eighth round of patrolling 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.In a message posted on its official Twitter account, the Turkish General Staff said that both countries' forces conducted separate coordinated patrols in the area between the area liberated by Turkey's Operation Euphrates Shield and Manbij.The first patrols by both Turkish and U.S. troops in the region began on June 18.The 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 those of women and children. The YPG/PKK is its Syrian branch.Should the Manbij 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.Turkey’s military chief visits troops on Syria borderTurkish army conducts 6th round of patrols in ManbijWe support Turkish army’s entry into Manbij: northern Syria locals
Turkish army does 8th round of patrols in Manbij, Syria
The Manbij deal focuses on the withdrawal of the YPG terror group from the northern Syrian city and stability in the region. Manbij has remained under the terror group's control since Daesh was driven from the region in August 2016.
The PYD and its military YPG wing are Syrian branches of the PKK, which has waged war against Turkey for more than 30 years.
Displaced people from Manbij now staying at refugee camps in northern Aleppo have voiced their support for the entry of Turkish forces into their city with a view to ensuring peace and security.In a statement released by Manbij’s Albo-Shaaban tribe, tribal spokesmen called on the Turkish army to “drive the PYD/PKK terrorist gangs from Manbij and end the group’s tyrannical practices against civilians”.According to the tribe, local civilians have been subject to extortion, detention and torture -- which in some cases has led to death -- at the hands of the terrorist group.“The people of Manbij are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Turkish army [to the city],” read the statement, released late Sunday night.“We call on the city’s Arab, Kurdish, Circassian and Turkmen residents to rest assured that their lives and property are safe,” tribal spokesman Mansour Abdel-Aal said.Video: Turkey and United States agree on Manbij roadmapA deal struck last month by Turkey and the U.S. calls for the withdrawal of the PKK-affiliated YPG terrorist group from Manbij with a view to ensuring the region’s stability.PKK terrorists kidnap 17 Syrian families over Erdoğan pictureThe PKK’s 30-year terror campaign against Turkey has claimed some 40,000 lives, including those of women and children. The YPG is the PKK’s Syrian affiliate.Should the Manbij model prove successful, Ankara will push for a similar arrangement in eastern Syria.Turkey views the terrorist groups operating near its southern border as a clear and present threat and has launched two major military operations with the stated aim of eliminating them.
Syrians of Manbij look to Turkey to guarantee stability
The United States, which is preparing to deliver Manbij to the Kurdistan Worker’s Party’s (PKK) Qandil cadre following quasi-efforts to ensure the terror group’s withdrawal from the city, is continuing to arm terrorists in the east of the Euphrates.The U.S. constructed a new air base in the al-Hasakah province’s town of Tal Baidar, and cargo planes loaded with arms and ammunition for the terror group landed one after another on June27.The C-130 J special operations aircraft and C-17 transport aircraft loaded with weapons and ammunition were dispatched to the recently completed military base, which is located 35 kilometers southeast of the Turkish border. The construction of the air base’s landing field lasted for one year.The U.S. has previously sent 2,000 cargo planes carrying arms and ammunition via Iraq’s Erbil to the PKK.PKK/YPG imprisons Arabs in Syria’s RaqqaUS sets up a new radar baseThe U.S. has started to establish a radar base in Tal Baidar, where extraordinary security measures have been taken. Despite U.S. President Donald Trump's call for the withdrawal of American troops from Syria, Washington has continued to construct new military bases in the country’s eastern and northern regions, facilitating its communication via underground channels.The U.S., which has designated the People’s Protection Units (YPG)-held town of Rmelan as its central position, conducts communication amongst its bases via underground fiber network channels in Kobani, al-Hasakah, Tabqa, Manbij, Tal Abyad, Deir Ezzor and Raqqa. There are 17 U.S. military bases in PKK occupied territories. The YPG is the armed wing of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), which is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK. The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States.The U.S has supplied the PKK/PYD terror organization with more than 5,000 truckloads of weapons to allegedly use in the fight against Daesh, despite Ankara’s warnings that the group is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK terror organization.US attempts to hide PKK terror assembly under ‘Manbij Local Council’Washington takes extraordinary precautions to protect PKK-occupied areasThe U.S is taking extraordinary measures to protect military positions in the regions occupied by the PKK, and has banned locals from coming within than five kilometers of the Pentagon’s designated points.Iraq’s Erbil has been used as the distribution center for the weapons and ammunition provided by the U.S. for the PKK for three years, but recently Tal Baidar and the surrounding towns have become a logistic center for Syria.Speaking to Yeni Safak daily, Syrian opposition members said it was questionable for the U.S. to dispatch arms to terrorists in an area merely 50 kilometers away from Manbij, where Washington and Ankara are conducting independent but coordinated patrols.Turkey’s military chief visits troops on Syria borderThe Manbij deal focuses on the withdrawal of the PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from the city in order to stabilize the region. Under the deal, Turkish and U.S. troops conduct patrols in the area -- six patrols to date.The opposition members added that the arms shipment shows that preparation that goes far beyond the fight against the Daesh is being made.
US uses new base in Syria’s north to arm PKK