© Sputnik/ Umit Bektas
Ankara is making preparations for an offensive in the north Syrian city of Manbij because it is skeptical about Washington's promises of a Kurdish withdrawal from the area, retired Turkish Major-General Armagan Kuloglu told Sputnik.
On August 24 the Turkish military began an operation in the region of Jarabulus, a Syrian city on the border with Turkey. Jarabulus has been in the hands of Syrian opposition groups since 2012, and in 2013 the Daesh terrorist group took control of the city. Two days before that, Ankara had started shelling Daesh positions in northern Syria close to Jarabulus, as well as shelling positions of the Kurdish YPG.
Turkish representatives said the shelling of Daesh-controlled areas was in response to mortar fire from Jarablus, which landed in the town of Karkamis in Gaziantep Province of Turkey. Turkey sent 20 tanks and infantry across the border to assist the opposition Free Syrian Army (FSA) in an offensive against Daesh at Jarabulus. Turkey's Defense Minister Fikri Isik told NTV that Ankara wants to rid the area of Daesh and help the FSA to gain control, rather than Kurdish forces.
"The operation has two fundamental aims. Firstly, providing border security. Secondly, to remove the PYD-YPG's presence in that area. Until the FSA establishes control, to remain where we are is our right. Unfortunately, there is no Syrian government authority in that area.
We are, as Turkey, defending the territorial integrity of Syria. The PYD has to withdraw to the east of the Euphrates. In our talks with the American side a week ago, we were told they will do so within two weeks. They haven't done so yet. We are watching closely," Isik said.
Comment: Further reading: High profile Ukrainian journalist Pavel Sheremet dies in car explosion