Manbij roadmap must include regions east of Euphrates in Syria

As terrorists from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)’s Syrian affiliate, the YPG, begin withdrawing from the northern city of Manbij, the details of the roadmap brokered between Turkey and the U.S. continue to unfold.

According to military sources, the agreement must be extended to include regions east of the Euphrates River, such as Horozköy, the Karakozak bridge area of Sirrin and the Tishreen Dam, a crucial source of water and electricity, all of which must be placed under Turkey’s control.

In order to ensure security in Manbij and the Euphrates Shield region, the safe zone is expected to encapsulate the city’s geographical borders.

Weapons that were supplied to terrorists from the PKK/YPG will be taken back as they withdraw from the city within the scope of the Manbij roadmap agreement between the U.S. and Turkey, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Tuesday.

According to the approved roadmap, all attempts by the PKK/PYD to alter the demographic make-up in the city will be foiled.

In the context of the agreement reached between the U.S. and Turkey, families that were brought to Manbij will return to their own regions following the withdrawal of the PKK from the city.

The status quo in Manbij, which was predominantly Arab, is set to return to what it was prior to the arrival of PKK terrorists in the city, thanks to a Turkey- U.S. agreement similar to the one that was previously brokered between Turkey, Iran and Russia to ensure security in the northwestern city of Idlib.

Observation points will also be established in Manbij and its vicinity as part of the approved roadmap, which includes the withdrawal of 3rd parties, in addition to PKK terrorists, including French soldiers that are also present in the city.

With the establishment of observation points, security will be ensured together with the local administration and the to-be-formed police force.

While Turkey will never accept the presence of PKK or any similar groups in Manbij, the U.S. does not look too kindly on the Free Syrian Army (FSA) either.

The U.S. wants to form a police force in Manbij that is formed of Arabs within the ranks of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is a front for the PKK, however, Turkey wants to make sure that the to-be-established force will be completely made up of local elements.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. The PKK has been conducting armed violence in the southeastern part of Turkey since 1984. More than 40,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the three-decade long conflict.