Turkey to U.S.: "end support for Syrian Kurdish YPG or risk confrontation"

[G-Man]

[QUOTE]ANKARA/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Turkey urged the United States on Thursday to halt its support for Kurdish YPG fighters or risk confronting Turkish forces on the ground in Syria, some of Ankara’s strongest comments yet about a potential clash with its NATO ally.

The comments, from the spokesman for President Tayyip Erdogan’s government, underscore the growing bilateral tensions, six days after Turkey launched its air and ground operation, “Olive Branch”, in Syria’s northwestern Afrin region.

Turkey’s targeting of the YPG, which it views as a security threat, has opened a new front in Syria’s multi-sided civil war.

Any push by Turkish forces towards Manbij, part of a Kurdish-held territory some 100 km (60 miles) east of Afrin, could threaten U.S. plans to stabilise northeast Syria and bring them into direct confrontation with U.S. troops deployed there.

“Those who support the terrorist organisation will become a target in this battle,” Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said.

“The United States needs to review its soldiers and elements giving support to terrorists on the ground in such a way as to avoid a confrontation with Turkey,” Bozdag, who also acts as the government’s spokesman, told broadcaster A Haber.

The United States has around 2,000 troops in Syria, officially as part of an international, U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State. Washington has angered Ankara by providing arms, training and air support to Syrian Kurdish forces that Turkey views as terrorists.

A coalition spokesman declined to address Bozdag’s comments.

U.S. forces were deployed in and around Manbij last March to deter Turkish and U.S.-backed rebels from attacking each other and have also carried out training missions in the area.

U.S. President Donald Trump urged Erdogan on Wednesday to curtail the military operation in Syria, the White House said.

However Turkey has disputed that characterisation of the conversation.

“President Trump did not share any ‘concerns about escalating violence’ with regard to the ongoing military operation in Afrin,” a Turkish official said.

“The two leaders’ discussion of Operation Olive Branch was limited to an exchange of views,” the official said.[/QUOTE]
[URL="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-turkey/turkey-to-u-s-end-support-for-syrian-kurdish-ypg-or-risk-confrontation-idUSKBN1FE297?utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+Trending+Content&utm_content=5a6a1c5304d3017c71a73f18&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook"]Reuters.[/URL]

[Michael haxz]

Turkey shouldn't bite the hand that feeds

[PsychedelicLiz]

Trump's a weakling, but I'd love to see him wipe the smirk off Erdogan's face.

[GoldenDragon]

[QUOTE=Megadave;53081053]Trump's a weakling, but I'd love to see him wipe the smirk off Erdogan's face.[/QUOTE]

Would love to see the excuses Edrogan makes when he gets dragged off to the hague.

[Zakk The Dad]

I'd really rather not get into an armed conflict with a derelict insane nation when we have a retard at the steering wheel.

[Unclejimmema]

[QUOTE=Thomo;53081879]Turkey shouldn't be in NATO.[/QUOTE]

Kicking Turkey out of NATO would give him all the reason and support he needs to get that much more cozy with Russia. If that happens that we would potentially have a bigger problem on our hands.

[ConcreteBath]

The US should respond by "accidentally" bombing the absolute fucking shit out of the Turkish troops in Syria. As far as i'm concerned, any Turkish troops that cross the border should be considered a hostile presence that will incite violence in the region, and should be dealt with with extreme prejudice.

[MeepDarknessM]

[QUOTE=The Aussie;53082507]The US should respond by "accidentally" bombing the absolute fucking shit out of the Turkish troops in Syria.[/QUOTE]

what the fuck?

[PsychoOrgasmo]

[QUOTE=The Aussie;53082507]As far as i'm concerned, any [B]Turkish[/B] troops that cross the border should be considered a hostile presence that will incite violence in the region, and should be dealt with with extreme prejudice.[/QUOTE]

:terrists: muh sandbox, git out :terrists:

For real, though. Every major player (US/Iran/Turkey) in this situation is using Kurds as board pieces for their goals. As much as I dislike it, Turkish assault against US-backed YPG is heavily justified since they're [I]reaaaally[/I] close with PKK, which have been terrorizing Turkey for decades.

[Nebrassy]

Situation: kurds weren't treated properly by our government over the years (they were only granted citizenship in ~2013, not even all of them), but that's nothing compared to what turkey did to them
The government wants to keep the country united, and also want to keep control
Russia wants to defend its only position in the area
Iran wants to keep their allies
Iran and Russia aren't best friends, in some cases they're fighting to please our government and gain more ground
America as always wants to have presence in the region which they repeatedly failed
America has always been considered "the ultimate enemy" (arguably israel but that's becoming less and less especially during this war)
Where the kurds fall in this, here i'm talking about their armed forces and the ones who are "in charge"
Wanted to defend their lands, didn't go with the syrian army although little to no confronts took place, constantly in danger of turkey, so the only support they got was drom the US
When you're supported by the US, you're either a tool or a product, on any moment a better deal will drop you out of the picture
And when you're helping "the ultimate enemy", you're only called a traitor

So they're in a pretty tough spot now, All I could imagine is an agreement with the syrian government to settle it, that might work out pretty good for them once isis and other terrorist forces are gone