Turkish-backed forces began the offensive last week by capturing the Syrian frontier town of Jarablus from Islamic State; they then advanced on areas controlled by Kurdish-aligned militias which have U.S. support in battling jihadists.
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But Ankara dismissed this claim, which was corroborated on the Kurdish side. During the meeting it was stressed that “such statements are unacceptable and do not correspond to the relations with the alliance”, said Turkish MFA spokesman Tanju Bilgiç, according to the newspaper Hurriyet.
In its northern Syria offensive, Turkish forces and their rebel allies have taken a string of villages in areas controlled by the Kurdish-aligned Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and advanced toward Manbij, a city the SDF seized from Islamic State this month in a US-backed campaign.
“Ultimately, Syria could yet turn into a territorial extension of the protracted fighting between Turkey and the PKK going on since 1984”, he warned.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on activists inside Syria, said Wednesday’s attack was carried out by a North African IS member.
“Operations will continue until all threats to Turkish citizens have been eliminated”, Yildrim said. “We are determined in our stance”.
The Turkish forces denied the accusations.
“We have continued to see calm in northern Syria, which is a good thing”, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said after the Turkish General Staff reported that three more Turkish soldiers were wounded and a tank was damaged by rocket fire near the Syrian border town of Jarablus. He spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. The official told AFP the deadly strike was conducted by a United States drone.
Erdogan also said Turkey wants to establish a “safe zone” on the Syrian border, though other world powers have not backed the idea.
The US has, by contrast, been backing the YPG with training and equipment.
Ankara contacted the U.S. ambassador on Wednesday over comments the foreign ministry called “unacceptable”.
Turkey’s offensive has raised concerns that Ankara could be drawn even deeper into the Syrian conflict.
Key Damascus supporter Tehran urged Ankara also on Wednesday to quickly wrap up its week-old military intervention in Syria, saying it was an “unacceptable” violation of Syrian sovereignty.
US Central Command spokesman, Colonel John Thomas, said the Turkish and Kurdish-led forces had reached a “loose agreement” to stop fighting each other.
Turkish officials have said Turkish-backed forces in recent days have struck westwards, in jihadist areas.
On Friday, Turkish security forces fired tear gas and water cannon at stone-throwing protesters in the Syrian border town of Kobane, which Kurdish militia took from IS in 2015 after a lengthy battle.
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IS claimed to have destroyed two Turkish tanks in a missile attack.
