Washington forbids Ankara to attack the Syrian Kurds

Photo : John Allen and Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu

A number of contradictory declarations have been made over the last few days concerning the project for a security zone in Syria. As we have explained from the beginning of this confusion, it is a media manipulation by General John Allen. [1]

On the 10th August 2015, the spokesperson for the US Secretary of State, rear-Admiral John Kirby, confirmed during his Press briefing that Washington had no interest in doing anything that could modify the territorial integrity of Syria [2]

On the 11th August, the Turkish deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu, repeated that Turkey « had agreed » with the United States to create a security zone in Syria. He added that both parties had authorised themselves to attack the Turkish Kurds of the PKK if they were to enter this zone.

On the 12th August, 2015, the spokesperson for the US Secretary of State, Mark Toner, confirmed to the Kurdish daily Rudaw that Washington had forbidden Ankara to attack the Kurds of the YPG in Syria [3].

But the YPG is the Syrian title for the PKK.

Also, on the 12th August, the Turkish Prime Minister, Ahmet Davutoğlu, during an interview with the BBC, « called for » the creation of a security zone in Syria.

Finally, on the 13th August, the Turkish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, declared on television that Turkey has no quarrel with the YPG, and that bombing them was out of the question.