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Ankara to Prevent All Military Support to Syrian Kurds' YPG Militia

© AFP 2023 / DELIL SOULEIMANMembers of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) monitor the positions of Islamic State (IS) group in the Syrian town of Ras al-Ain, close to the Turkish border on March 13, 2015
Members of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) monitor the positions of Islamic State (IS) group in the Syrian town of Ras al-Ain, close to the Turkish border on March 13, 2015 - Sputnik International
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ANKARA (Sputnik) – Ankara intends to prevent all military support to Syrian Kurds' People's Protection Units (YPG), which it considers an extension of Turkey's Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), and urges NATO to treat all terrorist groups equally, Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces, Gen. Hulusi Akar said.

The US-led coalition against the Daesh terrorist group is training a force expected to ensure border control in Syria, the Defense Post news website reported on Saturday, citing a coalition spokesman. The force is expected to be stuffed partly by veterans of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), affiliated with the YPG.

"We cannot and will not allow the terrorist organization, YPG, which has been proven as an extension of the PKK, to be supported and armed under the guise of it being an ‘operational partner’," Akar said, as quoted by Anadolu news agency.

READ MORE: Turkish Forces Shell Syrian Kurds Targets in Northern Syria — Reports

The Turkish military chief added that NATO should not give a preferential approach to any terrorist groups.

Following the coalition's announcement, Ankara has been indicating it might launch an offensive in Syria’s northern Kurdish-controlled Afrin.

The PKK, involved in an armed conflict with Ankara, is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, the European Union and NATO.

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