Asked about US media reporting on concerns that the Turkish military may be prepared to launch a major military offensive in Syria to crush Kurdish forces that are hostile to Türkiye, the foreign minister Hakan Fidan pointed to the YPG (People’s Protection Units) as an “essential threat” to his country
The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) armed group is listed as a “terrorist organisation” by Türkiye and the West Fidan described the YPG as the PKK’s “extension” in Syria
Fidan said,
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YPG has sustained its control over territory in Syria by presenting itself as helping the West, in the fight against ISIL (ISIS)
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"I think this is a misrepresentation of their true identity" "They are there as a terrorist organisation”
“Unfortunately, our Western friends … turn a blind eye to this fact that the YPG is an extension of the PKK”
adding
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"Ankara has been calling on Washington to cease its military support for the Syrian Democratic Forces, of which the YPG is the main fighting component"
Fidan also said,
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Syria’s new government must tackle the issue of Kurdish forces in its territory which would avert the need for Ankara to take action
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“There is a new administration in Damascus now. I think this is primarily their concern now
So I think if they are going to... if they address this issue properly, so there would be no reason for us to intervene”
Local witnesses have told the French news agency, Agence France-Presse (AFP) that there has been an increase in the number of soldiers patrolling on the Turkish side of the border but unusual military activity has not been evident
