Turkey: We will fight I SISUE in Syria without America

Turkey pledged Monday that the fight against the Islamic State would not slow down, even after the withdrawal of the US from Syria, where Ankara-backed rebels strengthened their positions around the city of Manbij.

Ibrahim Kalin, spokesman for President Tayip Erdogan, dismissed concerns that the withdrawal ordered by US President Donald Trump would allow the Islamic State to regain lost territory in Syria during these battle years.

“As part of the global coalition to defeat I SIS, 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 said at a press conference. He added that there will be no division or slowdown of the war against the militant group.

Erdogan and Trump agreed on a call Sunday to establish a military and diplomatic co-ordination to prevent a power vacuum from taking place after the United States withdraws.

A commission of US military officials will visit Turkey this week to discuss details of the withdrawal with their counterparts, Kalin said, adding that Turkey would boost co-ordination with Russia in Syria as well.

Russia supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while Turkey has backed rebels fighting against him. The two countries reached an agreement in September to create a demilitarised area in the Idlibit region, the last major rebel raid.