The United States will remain present in northern Syria as long as its allies — the People's Protection Units (YPG) Kurdish militia and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), both considered terrorist organizations by Ankara — remain there, Ozturk Yilmaz, the deputy chair of the Turkish opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) responsible for foreign relations, told Sputnik.
"We know that PKK/YPG are controlling the region with the support of the United States… As long as they are there, the United Stets will also use any excuse to stay there because the United States is protecting the YPG and seeing it as a partner on the ground," Yilmaz said.
"I see a kind of rapprochement between the United States and Turkey, a kind of tension decrease process after the election. Manbij agreement is a part of this process," Yilmaz stated.
READ MORE: Turkey to Retaliate if US Slaps Sanctions Over S-400 Purchase — Ankara
Earlier on Friday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced that the target area would be expanded beyond Manbij.
On June 4, the US Department of State said Cavusoglu and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had endorsed a roadmap to ensure stability in Manbij. Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag later said that the sides had agreed on a schedule for the YPG withdrawal.
