US set up new base in Syria's PKK-occupied Manbij despite Turkish warnings

U.S. forces established a new base in the northern Syrian city of Manbij, which is occupied by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), despite Turkish warnings to launch an operation in the town.

The new garrison which was photographed by Reuters on Tuesday also houses French troops.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had warned repeatedly in the past few weeks that Turkey is ready to launch an operation in Manbij.

“Turkey will not stop until it completely eradicates the terror threat waiting to attack it from Manbij and along the stretch its borders. If there’s anyone courageous enough [to challenge us], we say come on, bring it on!”

U.S. military support for the terrorist PYD/PKK group in Manbij has strained ties between Ankara and Washington and has led to fears of potential clashes on the ground between troops of the two NATO allies. There are roughly 2,000 U.S. troops in the city.

Turkey and the United States have reached "an understanding, not an agreement" over Manbij, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said back in March.

Turkey and the U.S. have established working groups to discuss the stabilization of Manbij and to prevent any undesirable clashes.

But due to the abrupt departure of former U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who helped establish the working groups, the future of Manbij remains uncertain.

The U.S has supplied the PKK/PYD terror organization with more than 5,000 truckloads of weapons to allegedly use in the fight against Daesh, despite Ankara’s warnings that the group is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK terror organization.

Operation Olive Branch was initiated on Jan. 20 in Afrin to establish security and stability, eliminate PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG and Daesh terrorists, and save locals from their oppression and cruelty.

Afrin has been a major hideout for the PYD/PKK since July 2012, when the Assad regime in Syria left the city to the terror group without putting up a fight.

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.