US acknowledges Türkiye's "legitimate counterterrorism threat" in Syria, but keeps backing YPG-led forces

The White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby has acknowledged Türkiye's "legitimate counterterrorism threat" in Syria while reiterating its support for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a group led by the YPG, the Syrian offshoot of the PKK, which Türkiye considers a terrorist organization.

He affirmed Ankara's right to defend itself, saying, "Ankara has a right to defend their citizens and their territory against terrorist attacks," noting "Türkiye has come under those kinds of terrorist attacks in the not so distant past," Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Kirby emphasized Türkiye's role as a key NATO ally while underscoring the U.S. commitment to its anti-ISIS partnership with the SDF.

"We have interests, as I said, in going after ISIS, and that means partnering with the Syrian Democratic Forces, and that will continue, and where those two goals overlap or potentially conflict, we will have, as we have, we will have the appropriate conversations with the with the Turks, about how both those outcomes can be achieved," he explained.

The White House's dual-track approach—supporting the SDF while acknowledging Türkiye's counterterrorism concerns—has been a longstanding source of tension between the two NATO allies. Türkiye has consistently criticized U.S. support for the YPG, which it equates with the PKK, a designated terrorist organization in both the U.S. and Türkiye.

Amid ongoing clashes between the SDF and the Türkiye-backed Syrian National Army, Kirby addressed reports of conflict around the key city of Manbij. "We are not in a position to verify the exact operational status of [Manbij], but said the administration has 'been in close contact with the Turks about this, and certainly remain in close contact with the Syrian Democratic Forces.'"

Kirby also expressed concerns about the potential security risks posed by instability in northeastern Syria, particularly regarding detention facilities holding Daesh/ISIS fighters. "Some of these detention facilities do house ISIS fighters, largely of a lower level, but nevertheless, ISIS fighters," he said.

He stressed the importance of coordination to prevent any potential breaches of the facilities. "We are talking to all of our counterparts, including the Turks, about the status of those detention facilities and about our collective concern of the potential for them to be opened up, or for people to be able to get out," Kirby noted.

Despite these challenges, Kirby expressed confidence in the SDF's ability to manage the facilities under their control. "Most of them in the east are run by the SDF, who are our partners, and so we know we can rely on their ability to continue to properly safeguard those facilities, the ones that are in the in the east, but it is a concern, no question about it," he said.

By Khagan Isayev