美國與土耳其在敘利亞開始“協作但獨立”的巡邏

The United States has begun “coordinated but independent patrols” with Turkey near the volatile northern Syrian city of Manbij, the Pentagon confirmed to VOA on Monday.

“We are patrolling on one side and they are patrolling on the other,” defense spokesman Eric Pahon told VOA on Monday. “These patrols are not joint.”

Turkey’s armed forces confirmed the American and Turkish “independent patrol activities” via Twitter earlier in the day.

Pahon said the purpose of the patrols was to support “long-term security in Manbij” and uphold its commitments to NATO-ally Turkey.

Earlier this month, Turkey and the United States endorsed a “road map” to overcome months of dispute over the city.

The two countries have disagreed over U.S. support for the Kurdish YPG militia, which Ankara views as a terrorist organization.

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters on June 11 that “collaboration” between the United States and Turkey along the forward line of troops would first include “patrols on each side saying, ‘Yes, I see you. You see me.’”五角大樓本週一向美國之音確認，美國已經與土耳其開始了在敘利亞北部城市曼比季附近“協調但獨立”的巡邏行動。

國防部發言人埃裏克·帕宏週一告訴美國之音：“我們在城市的一側巡邏，他們在另一側。這不是合作行動。”

今天早些時候，土耳其武裝力量通過推特確認了美國和土耳其的“獨立巡邏活動。”

帕宏表示，巡邏的目的是爲了支持“曼比季的長治久安”並保證美國對土耳其作爲北約成員國的承諾。

本月早些時候，土耳其和美國表示支持一張用於解決兩國對於該城市的紛爭的“路線圖。”

此前，美土兩國在美國對庫爾德武裝的支持上意見不一。安卡拉方面認爲該組織是恐怖分子。

美國國防部長吉姆·馬蒂斯6月11日告訴記者，美國與土耳其在軍隊前線的合作將以分別在兩側巡邏開始，他將其形容爲“我看得到你，你看得到我。”