Trump 'responds positively' to Turkey's demand over YPG in Manbij: Erdoğan

KONYA

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said his U.S. counterpart "responded positively" over Turkey's demand for the YPG to retreat from Syria's Manbij to the east of the Euphrates.

"We talked to [U.S. President Donald] Trump. He responded positively. These terrorists have to go to the east of the Euphrates. If they do not leave, we will send them. Because they are disturbing us," he said at the mass opening ceremony at Mevlana Square in central Konya province on Dec. 17.

Erdoğan and Trump had held a phone call on Dec. 15 after Turkey announced that it will conduct a new military operation in Syria.

Ankara considers the YPG as the Syrian branch of the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the EU and the U.S.

Washington says it backs the YPG in the fight against ISIL in Syria.

"We can start our operation any moment now in the Syrian territory at any place especially along the 500-kilometer border, without harming the U.S soldiers," Erdoğan said Dec. 17.

The Turkish president added that the army has completed preparations for the planned operation, noting that Turkey will do "what is necessary."