US, Turkey focus on second phase of Manbij Roadmap

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and his Turkish counterpart Nurettin Canikli met as part of the ongoing dialogue regarding implementation of the Manbij Roadmap, the Pentagon said Monday.

Pentagon spokesperson Adrian Rankine Galloway said the meeting was held last week and it also covered establishing security and stability near the city.

Rankine Galloway told Anadolu Agency the talks were focused on the second phase of the Roadmap which involves joint patrol in Manbij.

The roadmap was announced after a June 4 meeting in Washington between Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

The deal focuses on the withdrawal of the PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from the northern Syrian city of Manbij and on stability in the region.

The Turkish General Staff said in a statement Sunday that both countries' forces conducted patrols separately in the area between the Operation Euphrates Shield region and Manbij according to the roadmap.

The first patrols by Turkish and U.S. troops in the region began June 18.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK has taken some 40,000 lives, including those of women and children. The YPG/PKK is its Syrian branch.

Turkey has said the presence of terror forces near its border constitute a threat and has launched military operations and other efforts to rid the region of terrorists.