Erdogan accuses US of supporting terrorists in Syria

Turkish President Erdogan responded to Newsweek regarding Türkiye's stance on the Syrian conflict, emphasizing Türkiye's direct impact as Syria's neighbour.

He criticized the US strategy of supporting Kurdish forces, labelling them as terrorists affiliated with the PKK/PYD/YPG, Caliber.Az reports quoting him as saying.

"We are the nation that is most affected by the conflict in Syria, our neighbour. The United States supports not the Kurds in Syria but the terrorists. We are the ones supporting the Syrian Kurds and protecting their rights. The PKK/PYD/YPG terrorist organization carries out terrorist activities in the region under the guise of SDF. It is particularly persecuting the Syrian Kurds. It is these terrorists, supported by the US, who threaten the Kurds, Arabs, and Turkmens in the region and drive them from their lands," he said.

Erdogan reiterated Türkiye's role in combatting ISIS and called for a peaceful resolution in Syria, emphasizing Syrian territorial integrity and the cessation of external interference.

"The PKK/PYD/YPG terrorist organization uses the support given under the pretext of "fighting DAESH" to attack us and Syria. We are the ones truly fighting DAESH. We are the sole NATO ally that engages in close combat with DAESH. We are striving for a climate of peace in Syria. The solution to all these conflicts is a new social unison in Syria on the basis of territorial integrity. It is our fundamental desire that Syria should not be a land where regional and global powers arm wrestle, but a prosperous state completely free of terrorism and ruled by Syrians," the Turkish leader stressed.