US warns new Turkish operations in Syria would damage war against Islamic State terrorists

Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said on Thursday the US was concerned over Turkey’s intention to step up military incursions into Syria in another operation against Kurdish forces.

Kirby said the US was communicating frequently with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and US officials said they were in contact with Turkey to come to an understanding of its plans, according to Voice of America (VOA).

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on May 23 the country had plans to launch a new military operation in Syria to continue the establishment of a 30 km safe zone on the border.

Turkey seeks to seize control of portions of northern Syria from the control of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units – the main component of the SDF – which Ankara sees as part of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Turkey also intends to eventually return one million refugees to Syria.

US State Department spokesman Ned Price said Washington “condemned any escalation,” and expressed concern Turkey’s military operations would endanger US forces and the coalition’s war against the Islamic State (ISIS), according to VOA.

The escape of possibly hundreds of ISIS members from al-Sinaa prison in Hasaka earlier this year emphasized the danger of stretching SDF forces thin in the battle against ISIS cells remaining in Syria. There are an estimated 10,000 ISIS fighters imprisoned in SDF-controlled areas, VOA said.

Source: NRTTV