Turkey's Erdogan, Trump talk bilateral, regional issues

By Meryem Goktas

ANKARA

Turkey’s president and his U.S. counterpart spoke about bilateral and regional issues in a phone call, Turkey's presidential press office said on Thursday.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Donald Trump spoke on bilateral issues, including the latest developments in Syria -- including Manbij and Idlib -- according to a statement from the office.

The call comes as Turkish and U.S. troops begin joint patrols in Manbij, Syria, under a pact meant to rid the area of the terrorist group YPG/PKK.

Stressing their commitment to constructive steps to strengthen ties between their countries, the two leaders agreed to stay in close contact on bilateral and regional issues in the days to come.

During the call, Erdogan also condemned Saturday's deadly synagogue attack in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, expressing his condolences to the victims' families and the American public.

In the attack, at least 11 people were killed when a gunman opened fire during a ceremony at a synagogue in the state of Pennsylvania.

Before the attack, the accused gunman expressed anti-Semitic and anti-immigrant views online.