Col. Sean Ryan
The spokesman for the U.S.-led anti-Daesh coalition apologized Monday after posting a tweet critical of Turkey's military from an account believed to be sympathetic to the PKK terror group.
"In my official capacity, I accidentally shared content that was insulting to our Coalition partner Turkey, a key partner in the mission to defeat ISIS. I meant no disrespect," Col. Sean Ryan wrote on Twitter, referring to Daesh.
"We have a duty to mutual security, and we are committed to defeating ISIS. Please accept my apology."
Ryan was referring to a since-deleted retweet of a post classifying as "terrorist" Turkish armed forces.
"US Special Forces (Green Berets) patrolling the Rojava-Turkey border after terrorist Turkish army snipers targeted Rojavan civilians, killing a little girl walking home from school," the tweet said, accompanied by a photograph of U.S. military personnel and children.
The U.S. has been working alongside the YPG-PKK in Syria in its effort to eliminate Daesh from the region.
Turkey views the YPG as the Syrian extension of the PKK, a designated terrorist group in Turkey, the EU and the U.S.
U.S. Special Envoy for Syria James Jeffrey said Monday that Washington’s support for armed groups in northern Syria was temporary.The U.S.’s relationship with the SDF -- a group spearheaded by the YPG/PKK terrorist group – is "tactical" and "transactional", Jeffrey said in a speech at the Atlantic Council, a Washington, D.C.-based think-tank"We don’t have permanent relations with sub-state entities," he said, adding the U.S. supported the SDF with the specific goal of fighting against Daesh.The U.S. has been working alongside the YPG/PKK in Syria in an effort to eliminate Daesh from the region.Ankara views the YPG as the Syrian extension of the PKK, a designated terrorist group in Turkey, the EU and the U.S.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women and children. The YPG is its Syrian branch.‘Turkey would back UN plan for new Syrian constitution’Syrian opposition to back Turkish ops east of Euphrates
US Syria envoy says America's support for SDF not long-term
Turkey supports an anticipated UN plan to form a commission on Syria to rewrite the war-torn country's constitution, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said Tuesday."We have opened a final window of opportunity for a political solution in Syria," Çavuşoğlu told Turkey’s parliament in a speech laying out Ankara’s foreign policy priorities.Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011, when the Bashar al-Assad regime cracked down on protesters with unexpected ferocity.Since then, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and more than 10 million others have been displaced, according to UN officials.Reiterating Turkey’s resolve to fight terrorist organizations, including the PKK and YPG, Çavuşoğlu underlined that Ankara had never taken Kurds as an enemy.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 its Syrian branch.Sinjar won’t be new PKK stronghold: Turkish DefMinFurther Cyprus talks to depend on parameters Stating that the Greek Cypriot side did not cooperate with Turkey’s efforts to reach an agreement on the eastern Mediterranean island, Cavusoglu stressed that Ankara would henceforth enter negotiations only after the "parameters and framework" of talks were determined.He emphasized that Turkey’s continued presence in Cyprus as a guarantor was a prerequisite for a potential deal.Cyprus has seen an on-and-off peace process in recent years, including the latest initiative in Switzerland under the auspices of guarantor countries Turkey, Greece and Britain collapsing last year.The UN has sought a peace deal to unite Cyprus under a federal umbrella that could also define the future of Europe's relations with Turkey, a key player in the conflict.Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when a Greek Cypriot coup was followed by violence against the island's Turks and Ankara's intervention as a guarantor power.Noting that Turkey’s position remains clear on hydrocarbon drilling around Cyprus, Çavuşoğlu said the Turkish Armed Forces would continue to take all necessary measures in the eastern Mediterranean.In early 2018, the Greek Cypriot administration unilaterally launched exploratory drilling activities for gas in the Eastern Mediterranean despite strong opposition from Turkish Cypriots, who argue that the island's natural resources should be exploited jointly to ensure equal rights for both parties.Video: Turkey may start new Syria operation at any moment, Erdoğan says
‘Turkey would back UN plan for new Syrian constitution’