Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu
The PYD/YPG will begin leaving northern Syria's Manbij region as of July 4, following a month of preparations, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Thursday.
Çavuşoğlu said the roadmap for a solution in Manbij agreed upon by the United States and Turkey is being implemented fully.
The People’s Protection Units (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.
On June 12-13, Turkish and U.S. military officials agreed on a plan for ridding terrorists and stabilizing the northern Syrian city of Manbij during a preliminary meeting for implementation of the plan at the U.S. European Command in Stuttgart, Germany.
On June 18, Turkish and the U.S. troops started coordinated but independent patrols in the region, which are still ongoing.
Families in the northwestern Syrian city of Manbij are being forced apart due to YPG/PKK terrorism.Residents of Tukar village, 16 kilometers (9.94 miles) north of Manbij, narrated how YPG/PKK terrorists separate children form their parents.The village was liberated by Turkish-backed forces from Daesh during the Operation Euphrates Shield in 2017.However, YPG/PKK terrorists seized the southern part of the village. The northern part is still under control of Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army forces.The village is divided into the north and south by the Saju stream.Locals say they are unable to visit their relatives or carry out agriculture activities in the terrorist-held area.Village head Ibrahim Muhammed Milla said his family was divided as some of them were living in the part of the village occupied by the terrorists."When I want to visit my brother living in the same village they [PKK/YPG] ask for my ID card and check me," Milla said.Milla owns land in south of Saju, which is now inaccessible.YPG/PKK loots houses and villagesWelcoming Turkey's entry in Manbij, Milla said: “For God's sake, we want to be freed from PKK.”The Turkish and U.S. militaries began conducting patrols in Manbij on Monday in line with an agreed-upon roadmap for eliminating the terrorist presence and stabilizing the area.The roadmap, which calls for the withdrawal of the YPG/PKK from Manbij, was unveiled after a June 4 meeting in Washington between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.Abu Diyab, originally form Shuyruk village but forced to reside in Tukar village due to YPG/PKK terrorism, said he wanted to return home.“Our lands and houses are under the occupation of terrorists. We cannot go there. We want the place be cleared off PKK, to return to our houses,” he added.Diyab said the terrorists also looted houses in the village they seized.“PKK has taken away our household stuffs. They took away the doors and windows. We want the villages of Manbij to be cleared of terrorists," he said.Turkish army ends second round of patrols in ManbijYPG terror group positions abandoned in Syria’s ManbijSenior PKK terrorists killed in Qandil airstrike, says ErdoğanBroken families Um Eyham a resident of Tukar village was forced to migrate from her native village, first by Daesh and then YPG/PKK. She fears for her life if she returns to her native village. "We are living in Tukar village. My children and relatives are in PKK-held areas in Manbij. We cannot go to them in any way. We want Turkey and FSA to clean the area of PKK,” said Eyham. Noting the terrorists open fire at the Turkish military and FSA, she said: "We cannot move, we are afraid. They can hit us. We do not know what to do. We just want safety. I hope Turkey and the FSA will clear this region from terrorists."
YPG/PKK terrorists separate families in Syria’s Manbij
Earlier on Wednesday, Turkish Armed Forces began a second round of patrolling in Manbij as part of the objective to rid the area of the YPG/PKK terror group.
The Manbij deal, which was made between Turkey and the U.S., focuses on the withdrawal of PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from the northern Syrian city in order to stabilize the region.
In the coming stages, the Manbij deal aims that a joint Turkey-U.S. patrol in the region is launched; the U.S. officials collect the heavy weapons of the YPG members, all terror members leave Manbij.
It also aims that the local administration and security forces, which will be formed by Turkey and the U.S., secure the peace and stability in the city.
Should the model prove to be a success, Turkey will push for a similar arrangement in eastern Syria.
F-35 jets to arrive in Turkey in 2020
The Turkish FM also pointed that F-35 fighter jets from the U.S. are set to arrive in Turkey in 2020.
The U.S. is preparing to deliver the first batch of two F-35 fighter jets to Turkey during a ceremony that will be held in Texas on Thursday, despite the Senate passing a bill blocking the delivery, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters in southern Antalya province, Cavusoglu said training for the Lockheed Martin-made jets will be carried out in the U.S. until 2020.
"There will be training works until 2020. The arrival of the jets in Turkey will be in 2020," the foreign minister said.
The U.S. Senate on Monday overwhelmingly approved the annual National Defense Authorization Act which includes an amendment prohibiting sales to Turkey of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets, citing the purchase of the S-400 air defense system from Russia and detaining U.S. citizens as the reasons.
Later, Turkey announced that the delivery of jets will take place at a ceremony in Texas, with the jets set to come to Turkey once the pilots complete training.
Turkish Armed Forces on Wednesday completed a second 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 patrol activity near the Sacu river, which separates the Jarabulus region from Manbij.After the patrol activity, which took two hours, Turkish troops returned to Turkey safely.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.Video: Turkish Armed Forces start second patrol in Syria’s ManbijThe agreement was first announced after a meeting in Washington earlier in June between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.Should the model prove to be a success, Turkey will push for a similar arrangement in eastern Syria.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.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.Arabs account for more than 90 percent of the local population in Manbij.
Turkish army ends second round of patrols in Manbij
Abandoned YPG terror group positions have been spotted along the route of Turkish army's patrol in Manbij, a northern Syria city, according to Turkish security sources.The sources, who spoke to Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said Turkish and American patrolling is being conducted in accordance with meetings between the military officials of the two countries.While patrolling in Manbij continues, YPG terror group's abandoned positions, which are on the route of Turkish army's patrol, can be seen in the city, the sources said.Earlier on Wednesday, Turkish Armed Forces began a second round of patrolling in Manbij as part of the objective to rid the area of the YPG/PKK terror group.The first patrols by both Turkish and U.S. troops in the region began on June 18.Video: Turkish Armed Forces start second patrol in Syria’s ManbijThe 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.The agreement was first announced after a meeting in Washington earlier in June between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.Syrian refugees glad to see Turkish forces in ManbijTurkish army begins second round of patrols in Syria's ManbijShould the model prove to be a success, Turkey will push for a similar arrangement in eastern Syria.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.
YPG terror group positions abandoned in Syria’s Manbij
People from Manbij, Syria living just across the border in southeastern Turkey expressed approval of Turkish forces taking up patrols in the city under a new deal to rid the region of terrorists and provide stability.The refugees living in Sanliurfa are very happy, as their hopes to return were revived by the Turkish army patrols in the northern city.Hasan Suleyman, who took shelter in Turkey with his five family members after Manbij fell to the Daesh terrorist group, told Anadolu Agency on Wednesday that they were delighted to see the patrols after this year's Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr.Emphasizing that Manbij is in a critical region between Aleppo and Raqqah, Suleyman said that people will return once the Turkish army ensures security.YPG/PKK terrorists are using Raqqah as their headquarters and a base to control other occupied areas.Raqqah, a former Daesh stronghold, was captured by the YPG/PKK last October with air support from the U.S."Turkish patrols in Manbij mean the city will be a safe haven for a great many Syrians. A large number of people from Syria can seek refuge in Manbij. Manbij is centrally located. Turkmen, Arabs, Kurds and Circassians lived together there," he said.Another refugee, Ferdi Mahmut. said that he believes the Turkish army will proceed steadily to Manbij and that its residents are supporting Turkish soldiers."Now all paths to Manbij are clear. Hopefully the Turkish army will enter there. People living there were delighted," Mahmut said, adding that Turkish patrols in Manbij are very important to help its residents throw off the cruelty of the terrorist YPG/PKK."Hopefully there will be peace in Manbij as soon as possible. We have hopes," he added.Turkish army begins second round of patrols in Syria's ManbijManbij roadmap’s route revealed'A beautiful life'Mustafa Halil, another refugee, said, "Hopefully trade in Manbij will grow greatly. People will have peace and a beautiful life. People will be better financially. We have seen it in [Turkey’s previous] Operation Euphrates Shield and Operation Olive Branch. Hopefully we will see this continue."Turkish and U.S. forces began patrols in Manbij on Monday in line with a previously agreed roadmap for eliminating terrorists.The roadmap was first announced after a June 3 meeting in Washington between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu 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.In its over-30-year terrorist campaign against Turkey, the PKK has taken some 40,000 lives. The YPG/PKK is its Syrian branch.
Syrian refugees glad to see Turkish forces in Manbij