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The U.S. is concerned over Turkish shelling of PKK/YPG positions in Syria, an official said Wednesday.
"Unilateral military strikes into northwest Syria by any party, particularly as American personnel may be present or in the vicinity, are of great concern to us," State Department deputy spokesman Robert Palladino told reporters.
"Coordination and consultation between the United States and Turkey on issues of security concern is a better approach," he said.
On Sunday, the Turkish military hit PKK/YPG positions in the Zor Magar region east of the Euphrates River and the town of Tal Abyad on Tuesday.
In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women and children. The YPG is the Syrian branch of the PKK.
A spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition in Syria declined to answer questions Wednesday on who controls the northeastern town of Tal Abyad.On Tuesday, the Turkish military shelled positions of the YPG, the Syrian branch of the PKK terrorist organization, in the town.Cmdr. Sean Robertson, a Pentagon spokesperson, called on all parties to avoid escalation and focus on the most important task of defeating Daesh.When asked by Anadolu Agency who was in control in Tal Abyad, Col. Sean J. Ryan, spokesman for the U.S.-led Combined Joint Task Force, replied: "The Coalition works through the Syrian Democratic Forces [SDF], and they decide the troop movements and plans."Turkish FM to visit QatarWhen asked about the latest situation in the town and whether the forces there are SDF members, Ryan replied with a statement from the SDF which demanded that coalition members stop Turkish shelling of the region.Asked who is currently controlling Tal Abyad, if it was the YPG or SDF, the spokesman said he did not have a "current update" on the town.Ryan also did not respond when asked to disclose who the forces were in Tal Abyad that were targeted by Turkish shelling.On Sunday, the Turkish military hit PKK/YPG positions in the Zor Magar region east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria.The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU.
US evades answer on who controls Syria's Tal Abyad