US against autonomous Kurdish state in Syria, Kirby says

The U.S. is against any kind of an autonomous Kurdish state in Syria and supports Syria's integrity, Secretary of State Spokesperson John Kirby said in a daily press briefing.

When asked about whether a Kurdish faction in northern Syria, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), has the backing of the U.S. to establish an autonomous state in the region, Kirby said: "If you're asking me whether we support some sort of semiautonomous areas for the Kurds, the answer is no."

Kirby underscored that the U.S. is firmly in favor of a Syria free of any type of sectarianism. "We support a whole, unified, nonsectarian Syria. It's right there in black and white," he said.

The PYD is allegedly following a policy directed to creating an autonomous state in northern Syria. Ankara has taken a very firm stance on the issue. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has repeatedly asserted that Turkey will not allow any Kurdish state to be established in the northern part of Syria. "I underline Turkey's stance once again. We will not allow a state to be established south of Turkey in northern Syria," said Erdoğan.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu also stressed that Turkey will not refrain from hitting the PYD's military wing, the People's Protection Units (YPG), when Turkey's national security is threatened.

Presidential spokesman İbrahim Kalın echoed Davutoglu's remarks, saying: "Turkey will use its rights originating from international law and apply its rules of engagement to protect its national security, if necessary, no matter from which part of Syria or from which terrorist group the threat comes."