Turkey renames US embassy street after Syria offensive

Turkish authorities rename a street where the US embassy sits on after Turkey’s military offensive in Syria that had led to tensions between the allies.

Ankara municipal workers earlier today took down the sign for Nevzat Tandogan Street and replaced it with one that reads “Olive Branch Street.”

Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch last month to drive a Syrian Kurdish militia out of northwest Syria. The militia group is a major US ally in fighting the Islamic State group. Turkey regards them as “terrorists.”

The US State Department has said that it’s up to Turkish authorities to decide on street names.

In November, Turkey renamed the street where the United Arab Emirates has its embassy after a long-dead Ottoman military commander following a disputed tweet.

— AP