US: Erdogan's claims are "ludicrous"

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s frustration over his failed and costly Syria policies ventured into the bizarre when he claimed he had “confirmed evidence, with pictures, photos and videos” of the United States providing support for the Islamic State (IS), the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the PYD’s armed wing, the People’s Protection Unit (YPG).

Semih Idiz provides the background for Erdogan’s outburst: “The United States initially provided air support to Turkish forces and the FSA [Free Syrian Army] as they moved against IS in the towns of Jarablus and Dabiq, which were captured with relatively few casualties. The US military announced in November, however, that it was not participating in Turkey’s operation in al-Bab. This announcement came after Turkish forces started bombing YPG positions around al-Bab. In August, the town of Manbij was captured from IS by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is comprised mainly of YPG fighters. Erdogan’s determination to move on to Manbij appears to be another reason why the United States is reluctant to help Turkey in al-Bab. According to the perplexing scenario put forward by Erdogan, Turkey’s aim is to capture al-Bab before the YPG, rid Manbij of YPG fighters and work with the US-led coalition to liberate Raqqa from IS, after convincing Washington to dump the YPG. How it plans to achieve all of this on its own is not clear.”

Although on Dec. 27, State Department spokesman Mark Toner ridiculed Erodgan’s charge as “ludicrous,” he nonetheless felt obligated to add the usual bromides that “Turkey is a NATO ally and a strong partner in the anti-[IS] coalition. I certainly don’t want to give the impression that we’re trying to send a message.”