Speaking on Thursday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reported
that there will be at least one observation post staying in northern
Syria, under the control of the Turkish military. That will be just northeast of the city of Manbij.
Turkey had originally wanted 12 observation posts in northeastern Syria under the US plan, but yesterday suggested they were scrapping that plan under the Russia deal, with joint Russia-Turkey patrols meaning less concern on the Turkish side.
That Turkey is still insisting on a zone near Manbij, however, may
suggest this remains a sore spot under the new deal. Turkey’s invasion
was clearly intending to target Manbij as a city to occupy early, and a
Kurdish YPG deal with Syria precluded that, ceding Manbij and Kobane to
the Syrian government to defend.
With Russia now in the area, Manbij just isn’t going to get occupied by
Turkey, and for the time being, Turkey may decide to just set up camp in
the “observation area” on the outskirts of the city indefinitely.
Erdogan: Turkey Will Have Observation Area Near Syrian City of Manbij
Says Russia has agreed Turkey can keep this area
Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.
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