Pentagon chief: US will not give Turkey, demanding to withdraw American troops from Manuja
WASHINGTON, February 9. /TASS./ The US does not intend to yield to the pressure of Turkey, demanding to withdraw American troops from Syrian Manuja. This was stated on Thursday to journalists the head of the Pentagon James Mattis, responding to a question.
“With regard to the pressure of Turkey [in the US] against Mabija, the situation has not changed, he said. We understand the anxiety experienced by the Ankara [against Kurdish groups in Syria]. But now our goal is to put pressure on the group “Islamic state” (IG banned in Russia — approx. TASS), to continue the military campaign against the militants.”
According to Mattis, the U.S. is “concerned” that the fighting Turkey in the Syrian Afrin “distract attention from the fight against ISIS”. “We are working with Turkey on issues related to security in respect of which she is experiencing legal trouble, — continued the head of the Pentagon. — Turkey is our NATO ally, and we discuss with it these questions at all military levels. I see the Minister of defence in Brussels next week.”