| | | Date: Jan 18, 2019 | | Source: The Daily Star |  |  |  |
| | Turkey says Syria regime forces shouldn't be allowed in Manbij | Agence France Presse
ANKARA: Turkey on Friday insisted Syrian regime forces should not be allowed in Manbij as U.S. troops withdraw, as proposed by a U.S.-backed Kurdish militia viewed as terrorists by Ankara.
"The YPG's efforts to stick the regime in Manbij must absolutely not be allowed," Turkish Foreign Ministry Hami Aksoy said during a press conference in Ankara.
Backed by Washington, the militia has spearheaded the fight against Daesh (ISIS) but was taken aback when President Donald Trump made the shock decision to pull out 2,000 U.S. ground forces from Syria.
Aksoy said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu would go to Washington for a meeting of the U.S.-led coalition against Daesh on Feb. 6.
And one day before Cavusoglu's visit, a Turkish delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onal will go to the U.S. for discussions on Syria.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a loyal Trump supporter, was in Turkey Friday for meetings with Turkish officials including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Cavusoglu. |
| | |
|
