US and Turkey Agree on Safe SDF Withdrawal from Manbij to East of Euphrates

Dec 9, 2024, 05:49 PM

The United States and Turkey have reached an agreement for the safe withdrawal of US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) from the besieged city of Manbij, Syria. This development comes after years of contention over the presence of Kurdish forces in the region, with the agreement reportedly ensuring the SDF's relocation to areas east of the Euphrates River. The withdrawal fulfills a longstanding demand by Turkey, which views the SDF as linked to Kurdish groups it considers terrorist organizations. Syrian opposition sources, including Reuters, have confirmed the agreement, which has been welcomed by local residents in Manbij. Recent protests in Deir ez-Zor also called for the removal of Kurdish forces from the area.