US aims at establishing peace in Syria

United States Secretary of Defense James Mattis is focusing on establishing peace in Syria with the help of the US diplomats to Syria.

"We do not want to simply pull out before the diplomats have won the peace, so you win the fight and then you win the peace," Mattis said in a Pentagon press conference, as quoted by the Anadolu Agency.

While responding to the question about how the United States would ensure stability in Syria after the withdrawal of US troops, Mattis noted that he would meet with UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

The US defence services in Syria are fighting against the Islamic State militants while attempting at reviving the Geneva peace talks aimed at ending the Syrian civil war, Mattis added.

Further talking about the on-going differences between the US and Turkish government at Manbij city in northern Syria, Mattis said that negotiations between the two conflicting sides are underway while refraining from going into details.

Earlier there had been instances where the US military has supported the PYD/PKK terrorists at Manbij causing conflicts between Ankara and Washington. Since then the two NATO allies fear military clashes in Manbij.

Anadolu further reports that Washington had been providing arms and equipment to the Syrian Democratic Forces which are said to help the US in fighting against the Islamic State militant groups.

PKK has been waging a war against Turkey since 33 years that has led to the death of thousands including civilians.