YPG aims to capture Raqqa, not fight ISIL: Turkish FM
Sevil Erkuş - ANKARA
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has slammed the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces’ (SDF) apparent cooperation with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) for escape of jihadist fighters from their de facto capital Raqqa in Syria.
“As we have seen in Raqqa, the [Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units] YPG is not really trying to fight with DAESH. Instead it is trying to capture it and build a canton of terrorism. It has engaged in cooperation with DAESH in this region,” Çavuşoğlu said at parliament on Nov. 16.
The U.S. has been opportunistically trying to justify cooperation with Syrian Kurdish fighters with the excuse of “tactical reasons” despite Turkey’s warnings, he added.
“We see how the mistakes made in Iraq are being repeated in Syria. The stability and future of the two countries are important for us. One should cooperate with the real Syrian people, not terrorist groups, and focus on a political solution,” Çavuşoğlu said.
