The Pentagon Monday called on Turkey and Kurdish forces to “stand down” after the two groups clashed in northern Syria over the weekend.
In a statement, the Defense Department expressed “deep concern” that Syrian Kurdish fighters supported by the United States have come under attack from NATO ally Turkey in Northern Syria, while some U.S.-backed rebels have fired on Turkish troops.
The fighting between forces that are both ostensibly U.S. allies provoked a strong rebuke from chief Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook.
“We want to make clear that we find these clashes unacceptable and they are a source of deep concern,” Cook said in a statement emailed to the Washington Examiner.
“This is an already crowded battle space. Accordingly, we are calling on all armed actors to stand down immediately and take appropriate measures to de-conflict.”
Over the weekend, Turkey launched airstrikes at Kurdish fighters north of Manbij, and Turkey’s state news agency reported two Turkish tanks were hit by a Kurdish rocket, killing a Turkish soldier.
While the Pentagon expressed condolences to Turkey for what it called “the apparent loss” of one of its soldiers, the statement by Cook was sharply critical of Turkish airstrikes and artillery shelling of positions south of the border town of Jarabulus, the key border town where the Islamic State was pushed out by last week’s Turkish led-offensive.
“The United States was not involved in these activities, they were not coordinated with US forces, and we do not support them,” Cook said.
The United States is trying to walk a fine line by supporting both Turkey and a loose coalition of Syrian fighters, dubbed the SDF or Syrian Democratic Forces, while being sensitive to Turkish concerns that some Kurdish elements of the SDF are viewed as terrorists by Ankara.
In particular, Turkey considers the Kurdish group known as the YPG to be linked to attacks in Turkey. The U.S. strategy seems to be to try to separate the factions on the battlefield, without picking sides.
“We are prepared to support Turkey and the opposition groups on the ground as they continue these operations against ISIL moving west along the border,” said Cook, adding, “We also fully support the SDF in their efforts to defeat ISIL.”
With no combat troops of its own on the ground, the U.S. cannot afford to abandon any of its Kurdish allies, who the Pentagon has repeatedly called the most “reliable and capable” force fighting the Islamic State.
But in a nod to Turkish concerns that the Syrian Kurds are seeking to establish an autonomous Kurdish zone in northern Syria, Vice President Joe Biden during a visit to Ankara last week pointedly warned the YPG fighters to move east of the Euphrates river, or risk losing U.S. support.
“We seek to preserve the territorial integrity and unity of Syria,” Cook said. “We have made this clear to the YPG elements of the SDF. We have reiterated our view that the YPG must cross back to the eastern side of the Euphrates and understand that has largely occurred.”
The Pentagon says over the coming days the U.S. will remain closely engaged with Turkey and coalition-supported fighters on the ground in Syria “to facilitate de-confliction and unity of effort.”
“Uncoordinated operations and maneuvers only provide room for ISIL to find sanctuary and continue planning attacks against Turkey, the SDF, the United States, and our partners around the world,” Cook said. “We call on all armed actors on the ground to maintain focus on ISIL, which remains a lethal and common threat.”
Here is Cook’s full statement:
The United States remains focused on working with our partners in the Counter-ISIL Coalition to degrade and defeat ISIL, including capable, motivated local forces on the ground. An important part of this effort is denying ISIL access to Syria’s border with Turkey. In this context, we have supported our NATO ally Turkey in its efforts to clear ISIL from Jarabulus.
As we have clearly demonstrated, we are prepared to support Turkey and the opposition groups on the ground as they continue these operations against ISIL moving west along the border.
We also fully support the SDF in their efforts to defeat ISIL. The SDF have proven to be a reliable and capable force and our support for the SDF in its fight against ISIL is ongoing and will continue to do so. They have fought hard and sacrificed to try and rid Syria of this hateful group.
While we are closely monitoring reports of clashes south of Jarabulus — where ISIL is no longer located — between the Turkish armed forces, some opposition groups, and units that are affiliated with the SDF, we want to make clear that we find these clashes unacceptable and they are a source of deep concern.
This is an already crowded battle space. Accordingly, we are calling on all armed actors to stand down immediately and take appropriate measures to de-conflict.
As the Vice President stated last week, we seek to preserve the territorial integrity and unity of Syria. We have made this clear to the YPG elements of the SDF. We have reiterated our view that the YPG must cross back to the eastern side of the Euphrates and understand that has largely occurred. We maintain and will continue to engage our partners on the ground to ensure that our collective efforts to deal ISIL a lasting defeat are well-coordinated and synchronized.
We are also aware of reports of Turkish airstrikes and artillery shelling of positions south of Jarabulus where ISIL is not located, as well as fire against Turkish forces in this area. The United States was not involved in these activities, they were not coordinated with US forces, and we do not support them. We regret all loss of life in these reported clashes and have expressed our condolences to Turkey for the apparent loss of a Turkish soldier.
Again, we have urged that all armed activities in this area cease in order to provide time to de-conflict activities on the ground. We are urging all armed actors in these crowded areas to open immediate channels of communication with one another.
Uncoordinated operations and maneuvers only provide room for ISIL to find sanctuary and continue planning attacks against Turkey, the SDF, the United States, and our partners around the world. Unity of focus on ISIL over the coming days and weeks is imperative.
The United States will remain closely engaged with our NATO ally Turkey and with the SDF and other coalition-supported actors on the ground in Syria to facilitate de-confliction and unity of effort over the coming days. We call on all armed actors on the ground to maintain focus on ISIL, which remains a lethal and common threat.
