Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has slammed U.S. Special Forces for wearing Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Unit (YPG) insignias during operations against the Islamic State (IS) in Syria, saying it was "unacceptable," according to Anadolu Agency.
"Wearing an insignia of a terrorist organization by U.S. soldiers, who are our ally and are assertive about fighting against terrorism, is unacceptable," Cavusoglu told a press conference following the first session of Istanbul Program of Action for Least-Developed Countries in Antalya Friday.
Circulated photos have shown armed men in uniform identified by Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as U.S. special forces in the northern Syrian province of Raqqa, with some of them wearing an YPG insignias on their shoulders.
The U.S.-backed SDF, which consists of the YPG, Syrian Arabs and Syriacs, launched an attack against IS-held Raqqa on Tuesday.
Though listing the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) as a terrorist organization, the U.S. does not identify the PYD and the YPG in the same way, saying they are "reliable" partners in its fight against the IS.
Considering the Syria-based PYD and its armed wing, YPG, as affiliates of the outlawed PKK, Turkey has long been calling on its Western allies, including the U.S., to distance themselves from the PYD and the YPG.This difference has caused a rift between Turkey and the U.S. (Xinhua)
