Mattis slams Ankara's op in Syria amid US-Turkey row over Kurds


WASHINGTON, 25 Jan. - (ANA) - Just a month after the US promised Turkey to halt its arms supplies to the Syrian Kurdish fighters, the Pentagon announced plans to created a 30,000-strong border force from Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Afrin, which has been dubbed as a "terrorist army" by Ankara.

US Defense Secretary James Mattis urged Turkey to show restraint in its military offensive in Kurdish enclave of Afrin in Syria.

"The violence in Afrin disrupts what was a relatively stable area in Syria and distracts from the international effort to defeat Daesh," Mattis told reporters traveling with him in Indonesia ona the secretary's tour of Asia.

The Pentagon's chief has also warned that violence in the Afrin region could be exploited by Daesh terrorists in Syria, though earlier, he stated that the US understands Ankara's security concerns, provided that it is the only NATO member state which has an active insurgency on its territory, adding that Washington is "engaged" with Ankara on the situation.

The relations between Washington and Ankara have further deteriorated after the US announced building a 30,000-strong new security force on the Syrian border from Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) which are largely dominated by People's Protection Units (YPG).

The US plans immediatedly prompted angry reaction from Ankara, with Erdogan accusing Washington of forming a "terrorist army" and vowing to strangle it "until it is born."

Turkey has repeatedly stated that the key condition for the continuation of cooperation between Ankara and Washington is the cessation of US weapons deliveries to Syrian Kurds and the return of previously supplied weapons.

In November 2017, the US President Donald Trump pledged to cut off supplies of weapons to Syrian Kurds in a move to please Ankara. However, Turkey continues to maintain that Washington is still arming Kurdish fighters, with the US announcement of a new border force creation only adding fuel to the flames.

Turkey is concerned over Washington's support for the YPG fighters in Syria as Ankara considers them to be a terrorist organization linked to Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The PKK, which struggling against the Turkish government, calling for a creation of an independent Kurdish state in Turkey, is listed as a terrorist organization by both Ankara and Washington. However, the US draws a clear distinction between the PKK and the Syrian Kurds.


NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller highlighted Turkey's vital role in NATO in remarks at the National Defence University in Istanbul on Tuesday (23 January 2018). Calling NATO membership "a mutually beneficial relationship", she explained how "together, we reap the benefits of... enduring commitment to our collective defence."

The Deputy Secretary General thanked Turkey for its many contributions to the Alliance, including counter-terrorism expertise, deployments to Afghanistan and Kosovo, and support for Ukraine. She also set out the ways in which the Alliance contributes to Turkey's security: including with missile batteries to boost Turkish air defences; AWACS surveillance flights; and increased naval presence in the Black Sea and eastern Mediterranean. Ms. Gottemoeller further explained how NATO contributes to the international fight against terrorism, including through the Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan; training for Iraqi officers; AWACS surveillance flights for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS; a new Intelligence Division at NATO Headquarters; and a new Hub for the South at Joint Force Command Naples.

Concluding her remarks, the Deputy Secretary General stressed the enduring importance of NATO's values: democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law. "A democratic, strong and stable Turkey is important for our shared security," she said.

The Deputy Secretary General is concluding a two-day visit to Turkey. Earlier on Tuesday, she visited the 3rd Army Corps / NATO Rapid Deployable Corps Turkey, as well as Multinational Joint Warfare Centre Command. On Monday, Ms Gottemoeller met with Turkey's Deputy Foreign Minister, Ambassador Ahmet Yildiz; General Ümit Dündar, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, and other high-level officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence. She also visited the NATO Centre of Excellence for Defence against Terrorism, and laid a wreath at the mausoleum of President Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Republic of Turkey.  - (ANA) -

AB/ANA/ 25 January 2018 - - -