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WASHINGTON DC – The United States is not cooperating in the ongoing Turkish bombardments of Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq, a Pentagon official said Monday.
"We are not participating in the Kurdish air strikes or we are not contributing to them," said the senior US Defense Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity and responding to a question by Rudaw about an alleged deal between Washington and Ankara.
Turkey last week granted the US Air Force permission to use its Incirlik air base for raids on the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) group. Turkish air raids on bases of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region followed immediately after, leading to speculation that they two events were connected.
"We do not see a connection between deeper cooperation against ISIL and against the PKK,” said the Pentagon official, quashing that speculation.
The United States and NATO did have notification of the air raids on the PKK, which is recognized as a terrorist group by both, the official disclosed. He said the notification was "in the interest of air de-confliction.”
“Beyond knowledge of flying there was no other specific coordination" he said.
The United States has recognized Turkey’s right to “defend itself” against what it calls the “PKK terrorists.”
It has also called on the PKK to "renounce terrorism and engage in talks with the government of Turkey" the official added. "We encourage de-escalation by all parties, for everyone to remain committed to a peaceful solution."
In addition to bombing the PKK, Turkey has also stepped up its military contribution against ISIS with airstrikes and arresting its suspected members in Turkey.
On Monday John Kirby, the spokesman for the US Department of State, said Washington was “grateful” for Turkey allowing the United States use of its bases in the air campaigns in Iraq and Syria against ISIS;
The United States continues to provide air support for Syrian Kurdish rebels known as the People’s Protection Units (YPG), who are closely linked to the PKK, a group designated by the US and the European Union as a terrorist organization.
"Clearly we support the efforts of various groups fighting against ISIL, with coalition air strikes. This includes support to anti-ISIL fighters, including Syrian Kurds and Sunni local Arab forces," said the US official.
Turkey says its attacks on the PKK are “in retaliation” for the killings of two Turkish police officers last week by the PKK, a position that Kirby says is the same as that of the US.
Turkey and the PKK began a peace accord in 2013 to end a three-decade conflict that had claimed 40,000 lives. That accord is in tatters following the latest Turkish raids.
Turkey’s estimated 15 million Kurds are struggling for greater cultural and political rights.
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