Erdogan urges finish of international help for Kurdish fighters in Syria
Turkish president compares Kurdish YPG fighters to ISIL and says neither group has a future in Syria.
Turkiye expects international international locations to withdraw help for Kurdish fighters in Syria after the toppling of Bashar al-Assad, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says, as Germany warns towards an escalation in combating with Kurdish forces.
Chatting with reporters on a flight dwelling from a summit in Egypt, Erdogan mentioned there was not any cause for outsiders to again Kurdish fighters with the Individuals’s Safety Items (YPG). His feedback have been launched by his workplace on Friday.
The YPG is the principle drive in a United States-backed alliance known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeastern Syria. Turkiye considers the YPG an extension of the Kurdistan Staff’ Get together (PKK), which has lengthy fought the Turkish state and is designated as a “terrorist” group by Ankara, Washington and the European Union.
In his remarks, Erdogan in contrast YPG fighters to ISIL (ISIS), an armed group also called Daesh, and mentioned neither group has a future in Syria.
“Within the upcoming interval, we don’t imagine that any energy will proceed to collaborate with terrorist organisations. The heads of terrorist organisations comparable to Daesh and PKK-YPG can be crushed within the shortest potential time.”
The US nonetheless has 2,000 troopers on the bottom in Syria working alongside the SDF. The alliance performed a serious position on the bottom defeating ISIL forces in 2014-2017 with US air help and nonetheless guards ISIL fighters in jail camps.
Ankara, alongside Syrian allies, has mounted a number of cross-border offensives towards the SDF in northern Syria whereas repeatedly demanding that its NATO ally Washington halts help for the fighters.
Hostilities have escalated since President al-Assad was toppled lower than two weeks in the past with Turkiye and Syrian teams it backs seizing the town of Manbij from the SDF on December 9, prompting the US to dealer a fragile ceasefire.
Erdogan advised reporters that Turkiye needed to see a brand new Syria during which all ethnic and non secular teams can stay in concord. To attain this, ISIL, “the PKK and its variations, which threaten the survival of Syria, should be eradicated”, he mentioned.
Safety for Kurds ‘important’
Afterward Friday, German International Minister Annalena Baerbock advised her Turkish counterpart that safety for the Kurdish individuals is vital for Syria.
“Safety, particularly for Kurds, is important for a free and safe future for Syria,” she advised journalists after assembly Turkish International Minister Hakan Fidan whereas warning of the risks of any “escalation” with Kurdish forces in Syria.
Baerbock additionally raised the alarm over new violence in northern Syria.
“1000’s of Kurds from Manbij and different locations are on the run in Syria or are afraid of recent violence,” the German minister mentioned. “I made it very, very clear right this moment that our frequent safety pursuits should not be jeopardised by an escalation with the Kurds in Syria.”
Fidan advised Baerbock that it was important for Kurdish teams together with the PKK and YPG to put down their arms and dissolve, Turkish Ministry of International Affairs officers mentioned.
In the meantime, a senior US diplomat mentioned on Friday that Washington was urging a ceasefire between Turkish-backed forces and the SDF across the flashpoint Syrian metropolis often known as Kobane in Kurdish and Ain al-Arab in Arabic.
“We’re working energetically in discussions with Turkish authorities, additionally with the SDF. We expect the easiest way forward is for a ceasefire round Kobane,” Barbara Leaf, the highest US diplomat for the Center East, advised reporters after her first go to to Damascus for the reason that fall of al-Assad.
