After Turkey struck YPG positions, US says it's asked Ankara to stop
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On the same day that the People’s Defense Units (YPG) called for a no-fly zone for northern Syria, the United States, which has been backing the group in the fight against ISIS, has said expressed Turkey must stop attacking the US-partner forces in Syria.
"We did convey that,” Mark Toner, the deputy spokesperson for the US State Department said during a press conference on Wednesday after being asked whether the US has communicated that “Turkey must stop attacking the YPG.”
Toner clarified that the US supports “Turkey's efforts to protect its borders from PKK terrorism.”
The YPG claimed that a no-fly zone “will help keep millions alive and a stable north Syria is a stable regional situation.”
Toner said that Ankara notified Washington just 52 minutes ahead of its strikes in Syria.
The YPG reported Turkish airstrikes had killed 20 of its fighters in Qara Shouk on Tuesday.
“Twenty of our fighters were killed and 18 more injured as a result of the Turkish airstrikes,” Redur Khalil, the spokesperson for the YPG said.
The US has been backing the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) against ISIS in Syria. The SDF is primarily comprised of the YPG and the Syrian Arab Coalition (SAC), according to the coalition.
"We believe that among the Syrian Democratic Forces fighting ISIS effectively on the ground those forces that are made up of Syrian Kurds are not related to the PKK. We recognize ... Turkey's concerns about the threat of PKK infiltration,” Toner added.
The US has expressed its disappointment with the lack of coordination within the Coalition itself.
"What we are asking Turkey to do along with all members of the Coalition including those entities on the ground that we are supporting is to focus on the mission and the task at hand which is defeating ISIS,” Toner said.
"We did convey that,” Mark Toner, the deputy spokesperson for the US State Department said during a press conference on Wednesday after being asked whether the US has communicated that “Turkey must stop attacking the YPG.”
Toner clarified that the US supports “Turkey's efforts to protect its borders from PKK terrorism.”
YPG called for a no-fly zone in northern Syria, AFP reported on Wednesday.
The YPG claimed that a no-fly zone “will help keep millions alive and a stable north Syria is a stable regional situation.”
"Clearly though there's a difference of opinion between the US and Turkey over those partners who are on the ground fighting ISIS,” Toner added.
Toner said that Ankara notified Washington just 52 minutes ahead of its strikes in Syria.
“I'll say it again. There was a lack of coordination, of notification on these airstrikes."
The YPG reported Turkish airstrikes had killed 20 of its fighters in Qara Shouk on Tuesday.
“Twenty of our fighters were killed and 18 more injured as a result of the Turkish airstrikes,” Redur Khalil, the spokesperson for the YPG said.
The US has been backing the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) against ISIS in Syria. The SDF is primarily comprised of the YPG and the Syrian Arab Coalition (SAC), according to the coalition.
"We believe that among the Syrian Democratic Forces fighting ISIS effectively on the ground those forces that are made up of Syrian Kurds are not related to the PKK. We recognize ... Turkey's concerns about the threat of PKK infiltration,” Toner added.
The US has expressed its disappointment with the lack of coordination within the Coalition itself.
"What we are asking Turkey to do along with all members of the Coalition including those entities on the ground that we are supporting is to focus on the mission and the task at hand which is defeating ISIS,” Toner said.