ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Turkey and the United States renewed their commitment to their road map for Manbij, agreeing to make concrete progress by the end of the year. Continued US support for Kurdish groups in Syria, however, is a sore point for Ankara.
US Syria envoy Jim Jeffrey is in Ankara for a meeting of Washington’s working group with Turkey. During their discussions, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar told Jeffrey that the US should stop building its observation points on the Syria-Turkey border.
“The US should cut ties with the YPG [Peoples’ Protection Units], which is no different from the PKK and the US should also call off its plan to set up observation points in northern Syria,” Akar told Jeffrey, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.
US forces in northern Syria established five observation posts on the border with Turkey. The purpose of the posts – that are manned by American soldiers – is to watch the border to prevent any instigation from either side. The US made the decision to set up its watchtowers after their Kurdish allies in the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) briefly suspended military operations against ISIS in Deir ez-Zor when Turkey fired on their positions and villages along the border.
Ankara fiercely objects to US support of the Syrian Kurds and has threatened a military offensive against them, east of the Euphrates. America’s latest attempt to keep its two allies at peace as angered Turkey.
The Manbij roadmap was developed to appease Turkey’s opposition to Kurdish control of the Syrian city.
American and Turkish forces conducted independent patrols of the Manbij area in the summer and in November began to joint patrols. Ankara has, however, accused the US of dragging its feet in implementing further steps of their agreed plan.
The two sides issued a joint statement after their meeting on Friday: "They committed to accelerated and concrete progress on the Manbij roadmap by the end of the year,” Anadolu reported.
"Both sides reaffirmed their resolve to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations originating from within Syria and beyond."
The also agreed to meet more frequently, planning to next get together in Washington no later than February 2019.
US Syria envoy Jim Jeffrey is in Ankara for a meeting of Washington’s working group with Turkey. During their discussions, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar told Jeffrey that the US should stop building its observation points on the Syria-Turkey border.
“The US should cut ties with the YPG [Peoples’ Protection Units], which is no different from the PKK and the US should also call off its plan to set up observation points in northern Syria,” Akar told Jeffrey, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.
US forces in northern Syria established five observation posts on the border with Turkey. The purpose of the posts – that are manned by American soldiers – is to watch the border to prevent any instigation from either side. The US made the decision to set up its watchtowers after their Kurdish allies in the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) briefly suspended military operations against ISIS in Deir ez-Zor when Turkey fired on their positions and villages along the border.
Ankara fiercely objects to US support of the Syrian Kurds and has threatened a military offensive against them, east of the Euphrates. America’s latest attempt to keep its two allies at peace as angered Turkey.
The Manbij roadmap was developed to appease Turkey’s opposition to Kurdish control of the Syrian city.
American and Turkish forces conducted independent patrols of the Manbij area in the summer and in November began to joint patrols. Ankara has, however, accused the US of dragging its feet in implementing further steps of their agreed plan.
The two sides issued a joint statement after their meeting on Friday: "They committed to accelerated and concrete progress on the Manbij roadmap by the end of the year,” Anadolu reported.
"Both sides reaffirmed their resolve to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations originating from within Syria and beyond."
The also agreed to meet more frequently, planning to next get together in Washington no later than February 2019.
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