"We expect the coalition forces, especially the U.S., to keep the promises given to Turkey in this regard," Fikri Isik told journalists, adding that Turkey’s priority is the city of Manbij.
"This is the commitment of the United States to Turkey. We expect this commitment to be fulfilled as soon as possible," Yeni Safak quoted the Turkish minister as saying.
He stressed on Turkey’s priority of cleansing Manbij city from Kurdish militias after the liberation of al-Bab city, located east of Aleppo, mentioning the incidents in which the Kurdish militia and ISIS handed over some areas to the Assad regime which confirms the joint coordination between ISIS and the Kurdish militias with the Assad regime.
This week both Prime Minister Binali Yildirim and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu have warned the United States against continuing to work with the PKK/PYD in northern Iraq.
Cavusoglu warned on Thursday (March 2) that Turkey will attack the PKK/PYD in Manbij, northern Syria "unless the group withdraws," Anadolu Agency reported.
"We do not wish any of our allies to stand with terrorist groups," Cavusoglu said, referring to the US as an ally to Turkey. "We stated earlier that Turkey will hit the YPG unless they withdraw from Manbij."
The PKK/PYD has been accused by human rights groups of committing significant human rights violations in northern and northeastern Syria, including "ethnic cleansing" massacres.
These developments come after the so-called Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) – the Syrian-wing of the PKK – and via its "Military Manbij Council," signed an agreement with Russia to hand over villages along the line of contact with the Euphrates Shield Operations which is located in the area adjacent to al-Bab city, west of Manbij, to Assad regime.
Military sources had confirmed two days ago to Orient Net that the Turkish army is sending huge military reinforcements, including soldiers, tanks and armored vehicles to the area located between the cities of al-Bab and Manbij in eastern Aleppo countryside. These military reimbursements consist of 22 armored personnel carriers, along with a number of armored vehicles and tanks.
In return, the PKK/PYD sent out military reinforcements from the city of Tel Abyad in northern Raqqa countryside to the city of Manbij on Friday. Field sources reported that the reinforcements consist of 23 vehicles, including a US armored vehicles and troop carriers, in addition to other vehicles carrying heavy weapons, machine guns and cannons.
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