Turkish army begins patrols in Manbij
Turkish military on Thursday completed their sixth 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 YPG/PKK terror group.
According to an Anadolu Agency correspondent on the ground, armored vehicles belonging to the Turkish military carried out patrols around the Sacu river, which separates the Jarabulus region from Manbij.
Turkey's independent patrolling mission was carried out in coordination with the U.S. army.
Arab tribes in Syria's northern Jarabulus district, which was liberated last year by Turkey’s Operation Euphrates Shield, have voiced support for Turkish efforts to purge the entire region of the YPG/PKK terrorist presence.In a joint statement issued Thursday, they said: “Just as Turkey drove the Daesh terrorist group from Operation Euphrates Shield’s area-of-operations and provided the local people with stability, we support the [Turkish army’s] entry into Manbij.”“The people of Manbij look forward to enjoying better living conditions and liberation from the YPG/PYD terror group,” the statement added.The tribes go on to note that the region’s Arab, Turkmen, Kurdish and Circassian inhabitants had “lived in peace” before YPG/PKK terrorists established a foothold in the area.Backed by the U.S, the YPG/PKK terrorist group occupied Aleppo's Manbij district in August of 2016 on the pretext that it was fighting Daesh.Earlier this month, a roadmap for securing the region was unveiled following a June 4 meeting in Washington between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Cavuşoğlu and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.The deal explicitly calls for the immediate withdrawal of the PKK-linked YPG terrorist group from Manbij.On Sunday, the Turkish General Staff announced that the Turkish and U.S. militaries had -- in line with the roadmap -- conducted separate patrols in the zone between Operation Euphrates Shield’s area-of-operations and Manbij.Turkish army chief, NATO general discuss Manbij roadmapIn its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK has claimed some 40,000 lives, including those of numerous women and children. The YPG/PKK is the group’s Syrian affiliate.Ankara says that the presence of terrorist groups near its border constitutes a clear and present danger and remains engaged in military operations aimed at purging the region of the terrorist presence.*Ali Murat Alhas contributed to this report from Ankara
We support Turkish army’s entry into Manbij: northern Syria locals
The first patrols by both Turkish and U.S. troops in the region began on June 18.
The Manbij deal, which was made between Turkey and the U.S., focuses on the withdrawal of the PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from the northern Syrian 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.
Ankara and Washington can now begin a “more productive conversation” as presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkey is over, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday.Pompeo said U.S. and Turkey have reached an agreement, Manbij Roadmap, about how their forces would work together to resolve very complicated issue between different ethnic groups in the northern Syrian city of Manbij." They will ultimately be part of political resolution there and an important part. And we need to recognize that and do our best of work alongside them," Pompeo noted.The plan was announced after a June 4 meeting in Washington between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Pompeo.The deal focuses on the withdrawal of the PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from Manbij and on stability in the region.The Turkish General Staff said in a statement Sunday that the two countries' forces conducted patrols separately in the area between the Operation Euphrates Shield region in northern Syria and Manbij.The first patrols by Turkish and U.S. troops in the region began June 18.Turkey on Sunday reelected President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with more than 52 percent of the vote, according to preliminary results. Final results will be announced July 5.Tensions have existed between Ankara and Washington because of the U.S. support for the PYD and its military wing the YPG. Differences have also centered around the U.S. for not taking sufficient legal action against Fetullah Gulen, the U.S.-based leader of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO). Ankara accuses the group of being behind the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey.Washington has called the PYD/YPG terror group a "reliable ally" in its fight against Daesh in Syria even though its mother organization, the PKK, is listed as a terror group by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU, having waged a terror campaign against Turkey for more than 30 years, killing nearly 40,000 people.
US, Turkey can have 'more productive’ talk: Pompeo
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 Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti on Wednesday discussed the Turkish-U.S. Manbij roadmap over the phone, according to Turkish military.In a statement, the Turkish General Staff said Akar and Scaparrotti, who is also the Commander of U.S. European Command, addressed the implementation of the security principles in accordance with the Manbij roadmap.The Manbij roadmap was announced after a June 4 meeting in Washington between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu 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 on stability in the region.Akar and Scaparrotti also discussed the current security situation in the north of Syria, the statement added.The two, separately, exchanged views on some NATO-related issues.Should the model prove a success, Turkey will push for a similar arrangement in eastern Syria.If the Manbij model is successfully implemented, eastern Syria could eventually become a joint U.S.-Turkish zone of influence.“This is very important because it fills a crucial gap left when the United Nations Security Council was prevented from renewing its own investigation in November,” it added.
Turkish army chief, NATO general discuss Manbij roadmap