Turkish army conducts seventh round of patrols in Manbij

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

The Turkish military on July 1 completed its seventh round of patrolling in the northern Syrian city of Manbij as part of a deal with the U.S.

In a message posted on its official Twitter account, the Turkish General Staff said both countries’ forces conducted separate coordinated patrols in the area between the Operation Euphrates Shield region and Manbij.

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 People’s Protection Units (YPG) from the northern Syrian city in order to stabilize the region.

Turkish and U.S. military officials agreed in June on the implementation of a roadmap for the withdrawal of the YPG from Manbij, in accordance with a political agreement between Ankara and Washington.

When U.S President Donald Trump called President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on June 26 to congratulate him on his success in the June 24 presidential and parliamentary elections the leaders confirmed their commitment to the Manbij roadmap.

And on June 27, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the Manbij Roadmap agreement about power-sharing in Manbij will be “part of the political resolution.”

“They [Turkey] will ultimately be part of political resolution there and an important part. And we need to recognize that and do our best of work alongside them,” Pompeo told a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing on funding for the State Department.