Turkey’s military chief visits troops on Syria border

ANKARA

Turkish military chief Gen. Hulusi Akar on June 29 visited military brigades stationed on the border with Syria, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

Akar was accompanied by Land Forces Commander Yasar Güler, Air Forces Commander Hasan Küçükakyüz, and Naval Forces Commander Adnan Özbal.

The military chief inspected the troops in the southern province of Kilis.

According to a statement issued by the Turkish army after the inspection, Akar said efforts are ongoing to make the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) leave the northern Syrian city of Manbij and to collect arms under a deal reached between Ankara and Washington.

Turkey deems the YPG as an offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union.