Trump to visit Turkey in 2019 upon Erdogan's invitation: Turkish official

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Turkey vowed on Monday that the fight against ISIL would not be slowed by the U.S. withdrawal from Syria, where Ankara-backed rebels reinforced their positions around the potential flashpoint town of Manbij.

Ibrahim Kalin, spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dismissed concerns that the withdrawal ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump would allow ISIL to regain territory.

"As part of the global coalition to defeat ISIL, we would like to express again that we will not allow such a thing to happen on Syrian soil, Iraqi soil or Turkish soil," Kalin told a news conference.

He added that there would be no disruption or slowdown of the fight against the militant group.

The presidential spokesperson also said a U.S. military delegation was expected to arrive in Turkey this week to discuss and coordinate pullout of U.S. troops from Syria.

Turkey will also closely coordinate with Russia to avoid a possible power vacuum in Syria after U.S. withdrawal, including in the area east of Euphrates, he added.

Kalin stressed Turkey is determined to continue its fight against terrorism, saying: "Our troops will continue to stay in Syria's Idlib to assure regional security and stability."

Kalin then added that Trump has agreed to visit Turkey in 2019, but without giving an exact date of the visit.

Erdogan and Trump agreed in a phone call on Sunday to establish military and diplomatic coordination to prevent a power vacuum from developing as the U.S. withdraws.

A committee of U.S. military officials will visit Turkey this week to discuss the details of the pullout with their counterparts, Kalin said, adding that Turkey would also increase coordination with Russia in Syria.

Russia backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while Turkey has backed rebels fighting against him. The two countries reached an agreement in September to create a demilitarized zone in the Idlib region, the last major rebel stronghold.

Trump's abrupt decision to pull troops out of Syria has upended American policy in the region. It will also effectively hand the fight against ISIL in Syria to Turkey and set Ankara up to broaden its push against the Syrian Kurdish YPG.

Differences over Syria have long been a source of tension between the U.S. and Turkey. Washington has backed the YPG in the fight against ISIL, but Ankara sees the militia as a terrorist organization.

A rebel spokesman said on Monday Turkish-backed Syrian forces had reinforced the area around the town of Manbij, occupied by the Kurdish fighters, in preparation for the U.S. withdrawal.

"Yesterday units from the (rebel) Syrian National Army headed towards the Manbij front and took preliminary positions (in preparation) for the battle," said Major Youssef Hamoud, the spokesman for the National Army.

(Cover: A U.S. soldier surveils the area during a combined joint patrol in Manbij, Syria, November 1, 2018. /Reuters Photo)

Source(s): Reuters