General Joseph Votel was among U.S. officials who visited Manbij.
The United States, which is attempting to legitimize the so-called Manbij Local Council that is comprised of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorists, took down PKK’s so-called flags for show and replaced them with those of the council.
Washington engaged in a similar name game in 2015 when it prompted the Syrian offshoot of the PKK, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), to change its name to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The Manbij Local Council, which was formed in 2016 by the PKK, is headed by the terror group’s so-called Qandil team leaders such as Agid Ahmad, Jamil Mazlum, Ismail Derik and Shervan Dervish.
The weakened PKK terror group continued to target civilians in Turkey to make its presence felt.In the latest attack, Mevlut Bengi, a shopkeeper in a small village of eastern Agri province's Dogubayazit district, was shot dead on Tuesday, 26 June.He was working as an election observer during the June 24 parliamentary and presidential elections.A note -- which reads “he was killed for being a spy for the government since 2015”, was found near his dead body.The ruling Justice and Development Party workers -- including lawmaker Ibrahim Halil Yildiz -- campaigning last week on Thursday were also attacked by an armed group in Suruc district of southeastern Sanliurfa province, leaving four people dead and eight others injured.Although Yildiz survived the attack with no injuries, his older brother Mehmet Ali Yildiz died after succumbing to his wounds in the hospital.The terrorists, who lost the support of the locals in rural areas following counter-terror operations by Turkish security forces, are now attacking city centers.In September 2017, three Afghan nationals were killed in the same province when PKK terrorists attacked a minibus. Seven others were also injured in the attack.- Operation Olive BranchThe terror group carried out 90 attacks in Turkish provinces from Syria's Afrin region during the Turkish Operation Olive Branch. A total of seven people -- including two Syrian nationals -- lost their lives in the attacks and 107 others, including children, were wounded.Out of the total, 88 were rocket attacks, one was a missile attack and another was a mortar shell directed at civilians in Turkey. 34 of the attacks took place in Kilis city center, while 56 were carried out in Hatay's Reyhanli, Hassa and Kirikhan districts.In the attacks on Reyhanli, 320 houses or businesses were damaged, while 33 vehicles became unusable.On Jan. 20, 2018, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to remove YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin. On March 18, Turkish troops and Free Syrian Army members liberated the town of Afrin, on the 58th day of the operation.In 2017, over 20 civilians were killed in PKK attacks in eastern and southeastern provinces.On Aug. 11, 2017, 16-year-old Eren Bulbul was killed in a PKK attack in Macka district of the northeastern Trabzon province when he was showing a terrorist hideout to security forces.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the death of some 40,000 people.
PKK terrorists continue to target civilians in Turkey
Although posters of PKK ringleader Abdullah Öcalan and PYD symbols are being taken down in Manbij and Tell Abayd, the Manbij Local Council’s flags are being unfurled in their place.
U.S. attempts to legitimize terror council
Following the Manbij deal struck between Ankara and Washington, U.S. officials have visited the city. Special Presidential Envoy for Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh Brett McGurk and Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) General Joseph Votel were among those who visited Manbij.
U.S. Foreign Ministry and Pentagon officials are continuing visits in order to legitimize the Manbij Local Council. The most recent delegation was pictured with the council members on June 26.
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.We support the Turkish army’s entry into Manbij: northern Syria localsThe 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.US, Turkey can have 'more productive’ talk: PompeoShould 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.Turkish army chief, NATO general discuss Manbij roadmap
Turkish army conducts 6th round of patrols in Manbij
The Manbij roadmap was first announced after a June meeting 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 PYD terror group from the northern Syrian city and stability in the region.
Manbij locals “counting down the days for the Turkish army to enter”
Former Manbij Local Council member Issam Juma told Yeni Şafak daily that the only change was that the “the terrorists’ attire changed from military uniform to civilian clothing” in order to facilitate legitimacy.
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
Juma said that savage PKK terrorists, Ismail Derik, Jamil Mazlum, Shervan Dervish, and Agid Ahmad from Qandil were among those who form the Manbij Local Council, which has no links to the local public.
Northern Iraq’s Qandil Mountains have been a haven for PKK terrorists over the past few decades and is considered as the main base of the terror group.
“Every Manbij local is waiting for the day the two-year exploitation and occupation ends. Our people suffered first by the hand of Daesh and then the PKK. We are counting down the days for the Turkish army to enter,” Juma said.
As the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) continue to advance and establish bases in northern Iraq’s Qandil region in the context of the ongoing counterterrorism operation, terrorists from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) are retreating from the frontlines without any resistance.The TAF has established 20 temporary bases in Qandil since the start of the operation on March 10.Senior terrorists targeted as military bases spreadSenior PKK terrorists are in a state of panic as the Turkish army continues to advance in the region.Northern Iraq’s Qandil Mountains have been a haven for PKK terrorists over the past few decades. Considered as the main base of the PKK, which control checkpoints and entrances to the mountains, the structuring in the area is used for cover and concealment by terrorists.A radio exchange between two senior terrorists revealed that the terror group is now mostly only able to move across the Iranian-controlled side of Mt. Qandil.In their encrypted exchange intercepted by intelligence units, senior terrorists Muarat Karayılan and Jameel Bayık, who are currently positioned on what they called the “frontline,” accused and chided rank and file members of the terror group for not showing proper resistance.“You’re not showing proper resistance. You don’t resist at all. We lost a large number of positions. If Qandil falls, it all ends,” they said, according to one of the obtained audio exchanges.Security forces state that by establishing military bases in the region, the TAF has ensured a lasting PKK withdrawal from this region as it inflicts heavy material losses to the terror group, which is set to lose an important source of income after imposing a so-called “road and service tax” on civilians in the region.At least 10 PKK terrorists 'neutralized' in Turkey's BitlisEighty-seven terrorists neutralized The Turkish military has neutralized 87 PKK terrorists during counterterrorism operations in southeastern Turkey's Şırnak province and northern Iraq over the past week.Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question were either killed, captured or surrendered.During the operations, 127 improvised explosives were also defused while 12 weapon emplacements and shelters were destroyed, it added.In a statement released yesterday, the Turkish General Staff said airstrikes were carried out in the Sinat-Haftanin, Metina, and Gara regions of northern Iraq.Turkish army destroys terror targets in N.IraqTurkey destroys PKK targets in northern Iraq air opShelters, weapon emplacements, and ammunition depots were destroyed in the airstrikes, the statement added.Airstrikes on PKK targets in northern Iraq have been carried out regularly since July 2015, when the PKK resumed its decades-long armed campaign.The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey as well as the U.S. and the EU.In its terror campaign against Turkey, which has lasted for more than three decades, over 40,000 people have been killed, including women and children.Turkey vows to clear 'Qandil swamp' for sake of peaceErdoğan: 35 key PKK terrorists ‘finished off’ in Qandil
Turkish army inflicts heavy losses on PKK terrorists in Iraq’s Qandil
PKK plundering city
Manbij local Hisham Ali says the PKK is looting the city. The terror group has been forcibly collecting money from locals as so-called tax, and moving all valuable equipment to Kobani, Ali said.
“The PKK seeks to punish locals who support Turkey, and the U.S. supports this,” he added.
The U.S. and the anti-Daesh coalition have largely ignored the PYD/YPG links to the PKK, which the U.S., EU, and Turkey list as a terrorist group.
Washington has supplied the PYD terror organization and its armed wing, the YPG, with more than 5,000 truckloads of weapons to allegedly use in the fight against Daesh, despite Ankara’s warnings that the fact they are the Syrian offshoots of the PKK terror organization.
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
The U.S. and Turkey have concluded a roadmap for the northern Syrian city of Manbij, a senior official from the Trump administration said Tuesday."We concluded a roadmap with Turkey, and our discussions with them have been fruitful and productive, and we look forward to those to continue," Brett McGurk, the special U.S. presidential envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS [Daesh], said at the Political Director's Meeting of the Global Coalition To Defeat ISIS in Morocco."We are grateful for that cooperation," he added.McGurk also praised the work the two countries have done to deescalate tensions, particularly around Manbij.The 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 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 according to the roadmap.Trump, Erdoğan agree to improve ties after Turkish leader's re-electionTurkish, US army conduct 5th round of patrols in ManbijThe first patrols by Turkish and U.S. troops in the region began June 18.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.
Talks on Manbij roadmap fruitful, productive: McGurk