The United States has announced the withdrawal of 1,000 troops from northern Syria, while Turkey has just launched an offensive in the region against the Kurds.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday hailed the Pentagon's announcement the day before that the United States would withdraw up to 1,000 troops from northern Syria, where Ankara is conducting an offensive against a Kurdish militia.

"This is a positive approach," Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a news conference in Istanbul, questioned about this announcement made Sunday by Pentagon leader Mark Esper.