Manbij offensive

France said on March 30 it is not planning a unilateral military operation in Syria outside the international coalition fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) after senior Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) officials claimed Paris was planning to send troops.

French President Emmanuel Macron assured the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of Paris’ support while also recalling France’s commitment against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and its commitment to the security of Turkey during his meeting with an SDF delegation, according to a presidency statement on March 29.

Turkey on March 28 again warned it may "take action" in Syria's Manbij if the region is not cleared of militants.

The United States "has no intention to leave Manbij," said the U.S. Department of State spokesperson on March 22, despite Turkey's pledge to clear the People's Protection Units (YPG) from Manbij, in northern Syria.

Turkey and the United States have reached "an understanding, not an agreement" over the northern Syrian town of Manbij, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu stated on March 21.

A meeting between Turkey and the U.S. that was scheduled to take place on March 19 over Syria’s Manbij town was postponed after U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was sacked, the Turkish Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson has said.

Turkey and the United States will oversee the withdrawal of Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) militants from northern Syria’s Manbij town, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on March 13. 

Turkey has proposed to the United States that People’s Protection Units (YPG) militants withdraw to east of the Euphrates River in Syria and that Turkish and U.S. troops be stationed together in the country’s Manbij area, Reuters reported on Feb. 16, citing a Turkish official.

One of two British Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) militants known for their role in the torture and killings of Western hostages in Syria was aiming to reach Turkey when he was captured by Kurdish-led forces last month, Reuters reported on Feb. 9, citing a Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) source.

U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis said on Feb. 9 he will meet with his Turkish counterpart Nurettin Canikli in Brussels next week amid U.S. concern over Turkey’s plans to launch a military operation in Manbij, Syria.