Turkey, US will establish ‘safe zone’ around Syria’s Manbij if US keeps promises: Turkish presidential spokesman

ANKARA – Reuters

Turkey and the United States will form a “safe zone” around the northern Syrian town of Manbij if Washington keeps its promises, Turkish Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim Kalin said on March 15.

Kalin told state broadcaster TRT Haber that the agreement between Ankara and Washington on Manbij was binding, and that a change in the U.S. secretary of state would not change the deal even if it leads to a 1-2 week delay.

Kalın also said Turkey expected Turkish forces and Free Syrian Army (FSA) to clear Syria’s Afrin town of militants “very soon” and added that Ankara had no intention of handing over the town to the Syrian government following the completion of its military offensive in the region.