Exclusive: US general visits Syria’s Manbij, confirms support for Kurdish-led forces

MANBIJ (Kurdistan 24) – A top US General visiting the northern Syrian city of Manbij on Thursday confirmed Washington’s support for the local forces and administration.

“My goal for the visit here is to continue to demonstrate our very strong support for the Manbij Military Council and the civil administration of Manbij, and to visit the soldiers that we have here supporting them,” US Army General Joseph Votel told Kurdistan 24.

Votel is head of the US military’s Central Command, which is responsible for the Middle East and Central Asia, including Iran. 

Votel’s visit came after Turkish, and US troops on Monday made independent patrols along the line separating Turkish-controlled areas of northern Syria from the town of Manbij, which is controlled by a local force affiliated to the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), spearhead by the Kurdish YPG forces.

Accompanying Votel on tour at the Manbij market were local forces known as the Manbij Military Council, an SDF ally.

On his tour, he confirmed the US troops are staying in Manbij.

However, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Thursday said in an interview with private broadcaster CNN Turk that Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) fighters will begin leaving the Manbij region as of July 4.

Cavusoglu said the roadmap for a solution in Manbij agreed upon by the US and Turkey is being implemented fully.

On June 4, Cavusoglu met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo where the two endorsed a “general roadmap” for Manbij that was “conditions-based.”

The dispute between Turkey and the US stems from the role of the YPG, who provide the leadership of the SDF which is battling the so-called Islamic State in Syria.

The YPG has since announced the withdrawal of military advisers from Manbij, stating that none of its fighters remain in the city.

Turkey views the SDF’s Kurdish leadership, the YPG, as the Syrian branch of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which it, along with the US and European Union, consider a terrorist organization.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany

(Kurdistan 24 correspondent in Manbij Redwan Bezar extracted the statement)