Erdogan to Trump: Turkey ready to take over Manbij security

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says his country is prepared to take over security in Syria’s northern town of Manbij where a deadly bomb attack killed several American soldiers last Wednesday.

Erdogan made the remarks in a phone conversation with US President Donald Trump on Sunday, according to a statement by the Turkish presidency.

He told Trump that the attack was a "provocation" aimed at affecting his last month's decision to pull US troops out of Syria, the statement said.

Since the withdrawal announcement, Manbij has been a major bone of contention between Ankara and Washington over the fate of US-backed YPG fighters in the war-torn country.

Last month, the Syrian army entered the city, marking the return of territories held by YPG militants to the government for the first time in years.

The city had been held by YPG militia, which Turkey regards as an offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Turkey had been sending the so-called Free Syrian Army (FSA) militants to Manbij in recent years, reportedly in preparation for an offensive to drive YPG fighters out of the city.

SS