Ankara frustrated over Moscow's ties with PKK's Syrian wing
Russia's protective attitude towards the PKK terrorist organization's Syrian offshoot the Democratic Union Party (PYD), and its armed wing the People's Protection Units (YPG) was criticized on Thursday by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
"The U.S. and Russian interest in the YPG, the PYD, and the PKK upsets us. They should be removed from these lands. Otherwise, Turkey's mission in Syria will not be successful," he said.
The Russian charge d'affaires in Ankara was invited to the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday to discuss Turkey's unease regarding sniper fire from a PYD-controlled area in the northwestern Syria's town of Afrin that killed one soldier, according to ministry spokesperson Hüseyin Müftüoğlu during a press conference yesterday.
On Monday, the YPG's spokesman Redur Xelil claimed that they made an agreement with Russia on Sunday to set up a new joint military base, and that Russian troops had already arrived at their position in the northwestern province of Afrin with troop carriers and armored vehicles. "The Russian presence... comes as a result of an agreement between [the YPG] and Russian forces operating in Syria in the framework of cooperation against terrorism, to help train our forces on modern warfare and to build a direct point of contact with Russian forces," Xelil had said in a written statement.
Following his claims, Russia denied that it is setting up a military base in northwestern Syria with the YPG militia, and that it will be training YPG fighters, the defense ministry said on Monday. It also said it will locate a section of its reconciliation center near Syria's Afrin. Despite Moscow's denial, photographs that show military vehicles patrolling with Russian flags in the region have come to light.
In addition to this, the Russian General Staff has confirmed reports of a regime takeover in Manbij earlier in March, which is currently being held by the U.S.-supported Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), dominated by the YPG. In addition to the regime presence, Russian armored vehicles and troops were also seen in the area.
Ankara considers the YPG a terrorist group and an offshoot of the outlawed PKK — which itself is listed as a terror organization by the U.S., Turkey and the EU. Ankara has voiced concerns over the support for the YPG/PYD under the auspices of the YPG's goals to make demographic changes to the regions seized from Daesh. Ankara has repeatedly stated that any military support provided to the PYD/YPG is eventually transferred to the PKK, ultimately posing a threat to Turkey
"The U.S. and Russian interest in the YPG, the PYD, and the PKK upsets us. They should be removed from these lands. Otherwise, Turkey's mission in Syria will not be successful," he said.
The Russian charge d'affaires in Ankara was invited to the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday to discuss Turkey's unease regarding sniper fire from a PYD-controlled area in the northwestern Syria's town of Afrin that killed one soldier, according to ministry spokesperson Hüseyin Müftüoğlu during a press conference yesterday.
On Monday, the YPG's spokesman Redur Xelil claimed that they made an agreement with Russia on Sunday to set up a new joint military base, and that Russian troops had already arrived at their position in the northwestern province of Afrin with troop carriers and armored vehicles. "The Russian presence... comes as a result of an agreement between [the YPG] and Russian forces operating in Syria in the framework of cooperation against terrorism, to help train our forces on modern warfare and to build a direct point of contact with Russian forces," Xelil had said in a written statement.
Following his claims, Russia denied that it is setting up a military base in northwestern Syria with the YPG militia, and that it will be training YPG fighters, the defense ministry said on Monday. It also said it will locate a section of its reconciliation center near Syria's Afrin. Despite Moscow's denial, photographs that show military vehicles patrolling with Russian flags in the region have come to light.
In addition to this, the Russian General Staff has confirmed reports of a regime takeover in Manbij earlier in March, which is currently being held by the U.S.-supported Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), dominated by the YPG. In addition to the regime presence, Russian armored vehicles and troops were also seen in the area.
Ankara considers the YPG a terrorist group and an offshoot of the outlawed PKK — which itself is listed as a terror organization by the U.S., Turkey and the EU. Ankara has voiced concerns over the support for the YPG/PYD under the auspices of the YPG's goals to make demographic changes to the regions seized from Daesh. Ankara has repeatedly stated that any military support provided to the PYD/YPG is eventually transferred to the PKK, ultimately posing a threat to Turkey