The Turkish president backed the US to withdraw 1,000 troops from northern Syria, calling it a "positive approach".

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also expects the Kurds to withdraw from strategic towns like Manbij. "We do not go in there as Turks. The Arab brothers, the true owners there, will return. Our approach is to ensure their security," the President said. Turkey added, criticizing Western countries against the Ankara campaign.

The statement was made by Turkey's leader just a day after US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said it was "preparing to evacuate about 1,000 soldiers from northern Syria as quickly and safely as possible." ".

The Turkish army began to attack the positions of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) with the core of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in northeastern Syria on October 9. Ankara considers the YPG to be a terrorist organization and wants to push the Kurdish militants about 30 kilometers behind the border to create a safe buffer.

The White House on Oct. 7 announced the withdrawal of U.S. forces from northern Syria and indicated it would not prevent Turkey, but US President Donald Trump later tweeted that he would not abandon the Kurds.

The Turkish army and its Free Syrian Army (FSA) militants pushed Kurdish militants away from Tay Abyad and Ras al-Ain, two key towns in northern Syria.