Turkish air attacks on Syria threaten US personnel: Pentagon

Turkey has stepped up air assaults on northern Syria because the November 13 Istanbul bombing.

Turkey has launched an air operation in northern Syria focusing on the YPG, which it blames for the November 13 Istanbul bombing [Syrian State Television via AFP]

Turkish air assaults in northern Syria threaten the security of United States navy personnel and the escalating state of affairs is jeopardising years of progress towards ISIL (ISIS) fighters, the Pentagon has mentioned.

The general public feedback on Wednesday symbolize the strongest condemnation by the US of NATO ally Turkey’s air operations in current days towards Kurdish-led YPG (Folks’s Safety Models) forces in northern Syria thus far.

“Latest air strikes in Syria instantly threatened the security of U.S. personnel who're working in Syria with native companions to defeat ISIS and preserve custody of greater than ten thousand ISIS detainees,” the Pentagon’s spokesman, Air Drive Brigadier Normal Pat Ryder, mentioned in a press release.

Ryder mentioned the escalating state of affairs threatened the progress made within the battle towards ISIL fighters within the area.

He added that the US recognises Turkey’s “official safety issues”.

“Instant de-escalation is critical to be able to preserve deal with the defeat-ISIS mission and make sure the security and safety of personnel on the bottom dedicated to the defeat-ISIS mission,” Ryder added.

The feedback from the US official come after Russia additionally warned towards a Turkish floor operation in Syria.

The US has roughly 900 troopers in Syria, primarily within the northeast of the nation, who work with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is led by the YPG, to battle towards ISIL remnants.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan mentioned on Wednesday that Turkey’s air operations have been solely the start and that it could launch a land operation when handy after an escalation in retaliatory strikes.

Ankara launched air operations on the weekend in retaliation for an Istanbul bomb assault every week earlier that killed six individuals, and which it blamed on the Kurdistan Employees’ Get together (PKK) and the YPG. No one has claimed accountability and the PKK and YPG have denied involvement.

Turkey has beforehand launched navy incursions in Syria towards the YPG, concerning it as a wing of the outlawed PKK, which Turkey, the US and the European Union designate as a “terrorist” group.

The PKK and the YPG share shut ideological ties.

This isn't the primary time Turkey’s operations in northern Syria have threatened US personnel. In 2019, American troops within the space got here underneath artillery fireplace from Turkish positions as Turkey waged an offensive towards US-allied Kurdish fighters on the time.

Turkey has repeatedly complained to the US that help for the YPG-led SDF undermines Washington’s place on the PKK and its dedication to Turkey’s safety.

Erdogan maintains that Turkey will solely have the ability to take away the menace from the PKK and the YPG by clearing the militias from the Turkey-Syria border and making a “secure zone” in northern Syria.