20 June 2018•Update: 21 June 2018
By Selen Temizer
MANBIJ, Syria / ANKARA, Turkey
Turkish Armed Forces on Wednesday completed a second round of patrolling in the northern Syrian city of Manbij as part of a deal with the U.S. to rid the area of the YPG/PKK terror group.
According to an Anadolu Agency correspondent on the ground, armored vehicles belonging to the Turkish military carried out patrol activity near the Sacu river, which separates the Jarabulus region from Manbij.
After the patrol activity, which took two hours, Turkish troops returned to Turkey safely.
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 YPG terror group from the northern Syrian city in order to stabilize the region.
The agreement was first announced after a meeting in Washington earlier in June between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Should the model prove to be a success, Turkey will push for a similar arrangement in eastern Syria.
In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK has taken some 40,000 lives, including those of women and children. The YPG/PKK is its Syrian branch.
Turkey has said the presence of terror forces near its border constitute a threat and has launched military operations and other efforts to rid the region of terrorists.
Arabs account for more than 90 percent of the local population in Manbij.
