Earlier on Monday, the Turkish Armed Forces issued a statement to confirm many social media reports that the U.S. and Turkish military forces, in accordance with the Manbj Roadmap and Manbij Securty Principles, had begun patrolling near Manbij.
Department of Defence spokesman Eric Pahon, in an exclusive statement to Ahval, said "(t)he patrols are taking place outside of Manbij, along the northern demarcation line," but Turkish troops will not move into the city.
Pahon gave the same answer when asked if Turkish-backed rebels would move into the city.
"The patrols are part of the ongoing process to de-escalate current tensions along the demarcation line between the Manbij Military Council and the Syrian opposition north of Manbij," Pahon said. "These patrols support our commitment to long-term security and stability in Manbij, and the U.S. commitment to addressing security concerns of NATO ally Turkey."
An SDF official said in an earlier Ahval report by Wladimir Van Wilgenburg that the Manbij Military Council (MMC) would remain in control of Manbij, and not the Turkish army.
Pahon confirmed to Ahval what the SDF official told earlier, said, "that is correct" that the MMC will continue controlling Manbij city.
In the same report by Wilgenburg, SDF officials confirmed to Ahval that the Turkish forces had not entered and the territory was still under MMC control.
Turkish officials have stressed for months that the Manbij agreement will be a blueprint for the future of the region. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has claimed that Turkey and the United States will make similar agreements to clear Kurdish forces from Raqqa, Kobane and other Syrian cities.
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