EU minister: US support to YPG caused birth of Daesh
Turkey's EU Minister Ömer Çelik said that if the U.S. had provided armored vehicles to the moderate Syrian opposition instead of the PKK's Syrian offshoot the Democratic Union Party's (PYD) armed wing the People's Protection Units (YPG), then Daesh problem would no longer exist, adding that the U.S. administration did not have to cooperate with the YPG terrorist organization. "It's a pathetic excuse to say that there was no ground forces to fight Daesh other than the YPG. If the U.S. did not undermine the training and equipment program of the moderate opposition, then they [the moderate opposition] could have liberated Raqqa many times over," Minister Çelik said speaking to members of the press during a visit to Poland on Feb. 23.
Çelik recalled that the Free Syrian Army (FSA) has gained significant victories against Daesh with the support of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), and said that the situation on the ground would have been much better had the U.S. supported the Syrian opposition instead of the YPG. ‘‘Look now at who is fighting against Daesh in Operation Euphrates Shield and who is liberating al-Bab from Daesh," he added.
It was announced in recent weeks that the U.S.-led coalition has supplied the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which are led by the PKK's Syrian offshoot the YPG.
The PKK is listed as a terror organization by the U.S., Turkey and the EU, and Ankara has voiced concerns over U.S. support for the SDF and YPG. Due to their shared ideology, unified leadership and organic organizational links, Ankara has adamantly maintained that both the YPG and the PKK terrorist groups seek to change the demographic structure of the regions seized from Daesh.
In addition, Turkish officials have repeatedly stated that any military support provided to the PYD-YPG will eventually get transferred to the PKK and pose a threat to Turkey. In October 2015, the U.S. conducted air drops of nearly 50 tons of ammunition to the province of Hasakah in Syria. While the Arab opposition fighters claim they did not receive the supplies, the PYD terrorist group's leader Salih Muslim thanked the U.S. for providing the support.
Çelik recalled that the Free Syrian Army (FSA) has gained significant victories against Daesh with the support of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), and said that the situation on the ground would have been much better had the U.S. supported the Syrian opposition instead of the YPG. ‘‘Look now at who is fighting against Daesh in Operation Euphrates Shield and who is liberating al-Bab from Daesh," he added.
It was announced in recent weeks that the U.S.-led coalition has supplied the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which are led by the PKK's Syrian offshoot the YPG.
The PKK is listed as a terror organization by the U.S., Turkey and the EU, and Ankara has voiced concerns over U.S. support for the SDF and YPG. Due to their shared ideology, unified leadership and organic organizational links, Ankara has adamantly maintained that both the YPG and the PKK terrorist groups seek to change the demographic structure of the regions seized from Daesh.
In addition, Turkish officials have repeatedly stated that any military support provided to the PYD-YPG will eventually get transferred to the PKK and pose a threat to Turkey. In October 2015, the U.S. conducted air drops of nearly 50 tons of ammunition to the province of Hasakah in Syria. While the Arab opposition fighters claim they did not receive the supplies, the PYD terrorist group's leader Salih Muslim thanked the U.S. for providing the support.