US and Türkiye reach agreement and US allies leave Syrian city to rebels

Kurdish fighters have withdrawn from Manbij and are expected to leave other areas to the east. The information was given by a Syrian opposition source.

The SDF are US allies against the Islamic State, but seen by Türkiye as linked to the PKK. The PKK is considered a terrorist group that has been fighting the Turkish state for 40 years.

American-backed fighters may move east of the Euphrates River, closer to a Kurdish stronghold. Some fighters have already withdrawn from Tel Refaat and parts of Aleppo during a rapid rebel offensive.

Sporadic clashes continue in northern Syria. This comes even after the opposition’s initial success in taking Aleppo and Damascus.

The offensive led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham lasted less than two weeks. The group is considered terrorists by Ankara and the West.

The US will maintain its presence in eastern Syria to prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State. Around 900 American soldiers are positioned alongside the SDF in the region.