A photographer for Agence France-Presse posted photos of US special forces soldiers fighting alongside the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) near Raqqa wearing the Kurdish army’s patch on their uniforms on May 27. The YPG is considered a terror organization in Turkey, but not by the United States and its allies. US support for the YPG in its fight against the Islamic State (IS) has been a point of growing tension between the United States and Turkey. As more photos and videos started circulating on social media, the public reaction in Turkey snowballed as well.

There were two main approaches to the photos in the mainstream media. Those critical of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) used the opportunity to question the wisdom of AKP policies in Syria and toward the United States, and pro-AKP groups focused on harsh Turkish reactions and continued bashing the United States further. Several prominent commentators expressed disapproval of the AKP for not taking a clear stand against the United States.

Most pundits, including former Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug, argued that failed Turkish policies in Syria are the reason behind Kurdish-US cooperation.

Opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu asked the AKP government to face the hypocrisy that they are the ones allowing the US forces to use Incirlik Air Base in Turkey to transport supplies for the YPG. He said it is not the patches that should worry the Turkish government, but the extent of the Kurdish military alliance with the United States. Soon enough, Turkish TV news programs were debating heated questions such as “Is the United States an ally or an enemy?”