The United States has once again clarified that its policy towards the Syrian Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) has not changed and isn't in the process of changing after Turkey claimed otherwise, Turkish media reported.
US State Department Spokesman Mark Toner told a news conference on Friday that the US isn't even contemplating putting the terrorist designation on the YPG.
“It's a long process by which you designate any organization that's a foreign terrorist organization. We're not even there with the YPG. We don't consider them to be one," he said according to Today's Zaman.
However he did say Washington is opposed to YPG advances in Syria's northwestern Aleppo region.
"We've always been somewhat clear-eyed about where they are effective, where they benefit from our support, and where, in some areas – and I spoke about Aleppo – where we found some of their actions – and these are different groups, obviously different groups of the YPG that are operating in some of these areas. Some of them are not all that linked up – part of this complex situation we have on the ground – but we've been very clear when we find their actions to be counterproductive," Toner continued.
"We still view them as an effective fighting force that's taking on Daesh [ISIS] in many respects and many areas and parts of Syria very effectively, and we continue to support those efforts, but that's always been with understanding that they're not going to seize territory or hold onto territory, but rather, liberate territory that then can be returned to the groups that have been displaced."
His clarification comes after Turkey's presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin claimed that the US was treading more carefully when it came to its cooperation with the YPG. "I see some changes in the U.S. position. I think they are being more careful," he claimed on Friday.
Turkey has been bombarding YPG positions in northwestern Syria with cross-border artillery attacks for about two-weeks now and says it will continue to do so so long as it feels its security is under threat.
US State Department Spokesman Mark Toner told a news conference on Friday that the US isn't even contemplating putting the terrorist designation on the YPG.
“It's a long process by which you designate any organization that's a foreign terrorist organization. We're not even there with the YPG. We don't consider them to be one," he said according to Today's Zaman.
However he did say Washington is opposed to YPG advances in Syria's northwestern Aleppo region.
"We've always been somewhat clear-eyed about where they are effective, where they benefit from our support, and where, in some areas – and I spoke about Aleppo – where we found some of their actions – and these are different groups, obviously different groups of the YPG that are operating in some of these areas. Some of them are not all that linked up – part of this complex situation we have on the ground – but we've been very clear when we find their actions to be counterproductive," Toner continued.
"We still view them as an effective fighting force that's taking on Daesh [ISIS] in many respects and many areas and parts of Syria very effectively, and we continue to support those efforts, but that's always been with understanding that they're not going to seize territory or hold onto territory, but rather, liberate territory that then can be returned to the groups that have been displaced."
His clarification comes after Turkey's presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin claimed that the US was treading more carefully when it came to its cooperation with the YPG. "I see some changes in the U.S. position. I think they are being more careful," he claimed on Friday.
Turkey has been bombarding YPG positions in northwestern Syria with cross-border artillery attacks for about two-weeks now and says it will continue to do so so long as it feels its security is under threat.
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