Casualties reported in YPG/PKK attack in Syria’s Manbij

By Omer Koparan, Levent Tok and Adham Kako

MANBIJ/AZAZ, Syria (AA) - Casualties are reported in the northern Syrian town of Manbij, where YPG/PKK terrorists carried out a bomb attack on Saturday.

The explosion occurred near YPG/PKK-controlled area, where Sheikh Akil cemetery is located, according to local sources.

There were dead and injured in the attack, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

On Jan. 21, a car-bomb attack targeted a U.S. military convoy in Syria’s northwestern Al-Hasakah province, as it was passing through a checkpoint run by the YPG/PKK terrorist group. A U.S. soldier was heavily injured in the attack.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- recognized as a terrorist group by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women and children. The YPG is the group's Syrian branch.

- Manbij road map

In line with the Manbij roadmap, joint investigations by Turkey and the U.S. are ongoing for the restructuring of civil and military councils in Manbij.

The Manbij road map focuses on the withdrawal of the PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from the city in order to stabilize the region.

Turkey opposes the names linked with the YPG/PKK to take posts in administrative units.

Turkish authorities stressed that the administration in Manbij, of which 85-90 percent of the population is Arabs, should be balanced in accordance with the demographic structure in the region.

In order to implement the plan, the U.S. needs to push around 1,000 armed YPG/PKK members out of the city, the officials said.

Manbij is under YPG/PKK occupation since August 2016.

* Writing by Sena Guler