Erdogan's Warning: Do Not Remove Kurdish Forces from Manbij, We Will Attack the City

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned the United States on Friday, December 14, that if the presence of Kurdish forces affiliated with the People's Protection Units (YPG) in Manbij, northern Syria, continues, Turkish forces will attack the city. Speaking at a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Ankara, Erdogan stated that Manbij is inhabited by Arabs, but the residents have been forced to surrender to terrorists. The Turkish President emphasized, 'We are now saying you must cleanse the city of them and remove them, or we will enter Manbij. I am being very clear.' Erdogan asserted that Turkey aims to establish 'peace and security' in the areas east of the Euphrates River and under the control of the YPG. Following Erdogan's threat of a new military operation in Syria, the Pentagon expressed concern over a 'unilateral military action in northeastern Syria.' Erdogan had previously announced military operations against U.S.-backed Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria. Reuters reports that the U.S. and Turkey have differing approaches in northern Syria, particularly regarding the YPG, which is part of the Syrian Democratic Forces and a key ally of the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS. However, Turkey considers the YPG part of the PKK and a terrorist group. Turkey has criticized the slow implementation of an agreement regarding the withdrawal of YPG-affiliated forces from Manbij. Erdogan also announced the imminent Turkish attack on targets east of the Euphrates, stating the goal is to 'liberate' these areas from the PKK and its allies in Syria, particularly the Democratic Union Party (PYD). According to the 'Manbij Agreement' between the foreign ministers of Turkey and the United States, the withdrawal of U.S.-backed Kurdish forces from Manbij and other cities in the region was to occur after their disarmament, with a six-month timeline set for this cooperation. However, it was reported that the U.S. did not confirm the six-month period as a definitive timeline, stating it was an estimated timeframe dependent on conditions in the region.