US must stop trying to legitimize a terrorist group, Presidential Spox Kalın says
|AA Photo


Presidential Spokesperson Ibrahim Kalın criticized the United States Central Command's (CEMNTOM) support post for PYD on Thursday, saying the US should stop trying to legitimize a terrorist group.

U.S. based CENTCOM had shared an announcement on their official Twitter account about the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), claiming that they had no affiliation or ties to the PKK terrorist organization.

Kalın reacted to CENTCOM's post and asked if CENTCOM was joking or had lost its senses.

CENTCOM used a screenshot of the SDF announcement before sharing the post with a SDF signature. The post also stated that the SDF was seeking improved relations with neighboring states, including Turkey.

The United States considers the SDF as its principal partner on the ground in Syria in the fight against Daesh, while Turkey regards the groups as the PKK's Syrian offshoot.

The SDF is known to consist of Kurdish, Arab and Turkmen fighters, who are mostly PYD/YPG members.

U.S. Deputy Spokesperson Mark Toner also said in a press conference on Wednesday that the PYDtarget="_blank"'>