Joint US-Turkish patrols start near Manbij after days of Turkish cross-border attacks

The United States-led Coalition against the Islamic State (IS) on Thursday confirmed the start of joint Turkish-American patrols near Manbij.

“Coalition and Turkish military forces started combined patrols northwest of Manbij today,” Army Colonel Sean Ryan, Spokesperson for Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), said in a public statement.

“Patrols complement local security structure and stability in Manbij, imperative to sustaining momentum to defeat-IS operations in eastern Syria, including the safe and voluntary return of refugees.”

Asked if the joint patrols would enter Manbij, the Spokesperson told Kurdistan 24: “They will not enter Manbij city proper.”

Kurdish news agency Hawar News reported that the joint patrols took place 19 kilometers from the city with three US and three Turkish vehicles, starting from the village of Arab Hassan.

Reporters were not allowed to get close to the joint patrols. Moreover, both fighters from the Manbij Military Council (MMC) and the Turkish-backed Euphrates Shield forces were prevented from being present on the front line.

Read the full article and more in Kurdistan 24.