Spokesman: Military Council Not to Accept Turkey's Interference in Manbij

Manbij Military Council voiced its strong opposition to the Turkish army's military presence in the Northern Aleppo city amid the US delegation's arrival there after Washington and Ankara struck a deal over the city.

News ID: 70568

Date: 07 June 2018 - 15:20

TEHRAN (Defapress)- "We will not accept Turkish military presence in Manbij city," the Arabic-language al-Mayadeen television network quoted Manbij Military Council Spokesman Shirvan Dervish as saying.

Dervish pointed to the capabilities of Manbij Military Council forces to safeguard the security of Manbij city, and said, "Manbij city is more secure than the Turkish-controlled areas in Northern Syria, including al-Bab, Jarablus and Afrin where killings and blasts have destabilized those regions."

Meantime, Rudaw news website reported that the representative of US President Donald Trump in the international coalition arrived in Manbij on Wednesday.

It noted that the US representative has already had meetings with the commander of Manbij Military Council.

This is the first visit by an American political delegation to Manbij city after the recent agreement between the US and Turkey.

In a relevant development on Wednesday, the Kurdish-led People’s Protection Units (YPG) retreated from the city of Manbij in Northeastern Syria as the Turkish government disclosed reaching an agreement with the US on the city.

"The military advisors of the Kurdish-led People's Protection Units have left Manbij city," the Kurdish Hawar news website quoted YPG Central Command as saying.

The YPG said that withdrawal of its military advisors has taken place after they accomplished their mission of assisting the training of Manbij Military Council.

Meantime, Manbij Military Council announced that he is unaware of any agreement between Washington and Ankara on Manbij in Northern Aleppo and nothing has been notified to them. Dervish said that he is still waiting for a relevant approval.

Meantime, Turkish foreign minister had announced that Turkey reached an agreement with the US on roadmap and disarmament of the Kurdish forces and their withdrawal from Manbij city.

He also reiterated that the said roadmap will be implemented for withdrawal of these forces from Raqqa and Kobani.

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