Announced by the White House, this withdrawal comes as Turkey will "soon" implement a "long-planned operation" in northern Syria.
US troops stationed in Syria will withdraw from the borders of Turkey. "Turkey will soon implement its long-planned operation in northern Syria", commented the White House on Sunday, October 6, in a statement reporting a telephone conversation between Donald Trump and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
"US forces will not support or be involved in the operation and US forces, which have defeated the "caliphate" territorial of the(organization) Islamic State (IS), will no longer be in immediate proximity "said the White House.
The White House gave no details on this Turkish operation. But the Turkish president said on Tuesday that Turkey was running out of patience with the United States over the creation of a security zone in northern Syria, threatening the impending a military operation. "At this point, we have no choice but to continue on our own path"said the Turkish head of state during a televised speech.
Erdogan and Trump will meet in November
This buffer zone must be created between the Turkish border and the Syrian areas controlled by the Kurdish militia of the US-backed People's Protection Units (YPG), which Washington has relied on to fight ISIS. Ankara regards this militia as an organization "Terrorist".
The Turkish Presidency also reported on the phone call between Donald Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdogan. But it was limited to signaling that the two leaders will meet next month in Washington to discuss the establishment of this security zone in northern Syria. Mr. Erdogan told Mr. Trump "His frustration over the lack of implementation by the US military and security services of the agreement" reached in August with Washington on the creation of this area, which must separate the Turkish border from Syrian Kurdish territories, she said in a statement.
In its statement, the White House also mentions the possibility of entrusting Turkey with the responsibility of European IS fighters currently held by an Arab-Kurdish coalition whose YPG spearheads.
"The US government has pressed France, Germany and other European countries, from which many IS captured fighters come, to take them back, but they do not want and refuse", said the White House. "Turkey will now be responsible for all ISIS fighters in the area, captured in the last two years. "
