“It is unacceptable for US soldiers to use the insignia of the YPG, a terrorist group”, he said.
Advertisement
On Friday, Turkey accused the USA of being “two-faced” for refusing to refer to the Syrian Kurds (YPG) as terrorists.
In some pictures, soldiers identified as US special forces are seen wearing the patch of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units, which are fighting against the Islamic State (IS) group. “This is a double standard and hypocrisy”, said Çavuşoğlu on May 27.
The PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the European Union – resumed its 30-year armed campaign against the Turkish state in July 2015.
Aided by USA -led air strikes, the YPG has driven Islamic State from wide areas of northern Syria over the previous year.
Turkey is a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation member, like the U.S. But the leadership of President Tayyip Erdogan has caused a strain in relations with Washington and the EU.
The AFP photographer saw USA forces on the ground in northern Syria helping the Kurdish-Arab Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in a major offensive against IS in its stronghold of Raqa province.
“What I will say is that special operations forces when they operate in certain areas do what they can to, if you will, blend in with the community to enhance their own protection, their own security”, he said.
The United States has more than 200 special operations troops in northern Syria, where they are advising the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces, the bulk of which is made of YPG fighters.
Photos of US special operations forces wearing the insignia surfaced this week, and Turkish leaders relayed their complaint to the U.S.
Tensions between the two countries have increased since last fall when a Russian plane was shot down near the border.
The U.S. -backed SDF, which consists of the YPG, Syrian Arabs and Syriacs, launched an offensive against ISIL stronghold Raqqa on May 24.
“Unfortunately the U.S.is entering a phase that is very risky for the future of Syria”, said Cavusoglu. “But assisting is not specifically providing arms”.
Advertisement
“We just don’t have the clarity on that”, he said.
