US to stop arming anti-IS Syrian Kurdish YPG militia - Turkey
The US is to stop supplying arms to the Syrian Kurdish militia the YPG, Turkey has said. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said President Donald Trump had made the promise in a phone call to his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The White House said it was making "adjustments" to its support for partners inside Syria but did not explicitly name the YPG.
Turkey has long complained about US support for the group. Washington has viewed the YPG as a key player in the fight against so-called Islamic State (IS), but Ankara brands the group's fighters as terrorists. Turkey says the YPG is as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a group it has been fighting for decades in south-eastern Turkey. The US, however, has seen the YPG as distinct from the PKK. In May it announced it would supply arms to the Kurdish elements of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which were poised to drive IS from its stronghold of Raqqa. It had previously armed only Arab elements of the SDF.
Goodbye, Kurdistan?
Also at Reuters, NPR, Daily Sabah, and RT.
(Score: 2) by Arik on Sunday November 26 2017, @07:15PM (2 children)
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Sunday November 26 2017, @07:18PM (1 child)
And, you were expecting - what? Does venality and corruption deprive you or me of independence? The UK is going to revoke our Indepence Day? They're just going to take it back?
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Sunday November 26 2017, @08:41PM
Does venality and corruption deprive you or me of independence?
No, but they can and probably should deny you of outside support. But, you know, Russia and China are waiting in the wings should the US and Europe withdraw. As always market forces shall prevail [nytimes.com]. I doubt the subject of "independence" ever comes up in the war room.
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..