US envoy condemns clashes between Syrian Kurds, Turkey

Clashes between Turkish forces and units affiliated with a US-backed Kurdish-led alliance in Syria are “unacceptable,” a US official said Monday, calling on all sides to “stand down.”

On his Twitter account, US envoy to the coalition against the Islamic State group Brett McGurk said the Pentagon condemned the clashes south of the Syrian town of Jarablus, adding that American forces were not involved in the fighting and did not support them.

DOD: We want to make clear that we find these clashes — in areas where #ISIL is not located — unacceptable and a source of deep concern.

— Brett McGurk (@brett_mcgurk) August 29, 2016

DOD: The United States was not involved in these activities, they were not coordinated with U.S. forces, and we do not support them.

— Brett McGurk (@brett_mcgurk) August 29, 2016

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu earlier said his country would continue targeting a Syrian Kurdish militia in Syria if it failed to fulfill promises to retreat east of the Euphrates River, accusing the group of ethnic cleansing.

“The YPG (People’s Protection Units) first of all… needs to cross east of the Euphrates as soon as possible. So long as they don’t, they will be a target,” said Cavusoglu.

Netherlands’ Foreign Minister Bert Koenders, left, and Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu speak during a joint press conference at the Foreign Ministry’s residence in Ankara on August 29, 2016. (AFP PHOTO / ADEM ALTAN)

“In the places where it has moved, the YPG forces everyone out — including Kurds — who do not think like it does and carries out ethnic cleansing,” he added.

— AFP