Manbij witnesses the implementation of the first step of the Turkish – American agreement and anticipation for accelerating the pace of implementing the agreement in the coming stage
Aleppo Province – The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: reliable sources informed the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights that it is expected in the coming days, that the implementation of Manbij agreement, which was reached between the US and Turkey, will be accelerated, , where it is suggested that Turkish military patrols and a reconnaissance force will enter the controlled areas of the Coalition and Manbij Military Council, to make sure of implementing the steps of the agreement, where the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored today morning, Monday, the 18th of June 2018, Turkish patrols and other patrols of the International Coalition, roaming on the contact lines in Manbij countryside between Manbij Military Council and the factions of the “Euphrates Shield” Operation, in the north-eastern countryside of Aleppo, and the sources confirmed to the SOHR that the Turkish patrol did not enter the controlled areas of Manbij Military Council and the Coalition in Manbij.
The reliable sources confirmed to the Syrian Observatory 10 days ago, that the process of carrying out Manbij agreement has not begun yet, where it was reached after an American – Turkish consensus and after consultation meetings between both parties, where the sources confirmed that the operation of carrying out the agreement represented by the withdrawal of YPG towards the east of Euphrates had not begun yet, also no members or advisors has withdrawn from Manbij city until now, but it is expected to be carried out toward the east of Euphrates in the coming days, while the sources have confirmed that joint patrols of the United States and Turkish Forces are likely to take be run as mobile patrols on the border between both parties in the countryside of Manbij, where the patrols of each party will move within its areas, without entering the other party’s areas.
Reliable sources confirmed to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on the 5th of June 2018 that the forces of Manbij Military Council which fights under the banner of Syria Democratic forces will remain in Manbij city and its countryside and it will be the force in control of it, where these forces will remain, also the forces of Manbij Military Council confirmed to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights that their fighters are not from the Kurdish units, asserting that all of its fighters are from Manbij city and from villages and towns in Manbij countryside, also reliable sources confirmed to the Observatory that the news about a special meeting is not true, where the news talked about a meeting between Manbij Military Council and the Syria Democratic Forces, and between the International Coalition regarding applying the American-Turkish agreement which was reached around Manbij. The sources confirmed that the meeting which took place comers in the context of the daily meetings between both parties, as a part of the daily meetings about the matters of the city and its countryside, while the process of preparing for the exit of members of YPG –which mainstay is the Syrian Democratic forces– continues, as well as their withdrawal to the east of Euphrates, while it is expected for American and Turkish forces to be deployed on the contact lines between both parties in the countryside of Manbij, and there will be an agreement about the process of managing the city and forming the local and service councils as a step for carrying out the agreement, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also published in early June that this agreement removes the Syria Democratic Forces and Manbij Military Council from the city, establishes Turkish and American observation posts on the contact lines between both parties in the countryside of Manbij to monitor the application of the agreement, to prevent the violating of the agreement either by the Syria Democratic Forces or the factions supported by Turkey on the contact lines between both parties, while people were divided in city Manbij, where some people rejected the Turkish-American agreement, amid accusation against Turkey of trying to impose its full presence in the Syrian north, especially the western banks of Euphrates River, while others supported this agreement.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published late February 2017 that the American forces working in the US-led coalition sent fighters and vehicles around Menbej area in areas controlled by the military council of Menbej in the northern eastern countryside of Aleppo, after the latest updates in al-Bab city and the pulling back of the IS from a large number of villages, and after the Turkish forces have wider lines directly with the military council of Menbej areas, in addition to the lines between the regime forces and the military council areas 16 km From Menbej city.