US official: Türkiye remains key player in Syria

US National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby has said that the White House understands Türkiye's legitimate concerns regarding the terrorist threat posed by the PKK/YPG along the Syrian border.

Kirby made these remarks during a briefing, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media. 

He said that regardless of how the situation in Syria develops, there is no doubt that Türkiye plays a crucial role here.

In response to a journalist's question about US President-elect Donald Trump's remark that the keys to Syria are in Türkiye's hands, Kirby emphasised that as has been the case for the past 14 years, there is no doubt that Türkiye remains a key player in Syria.

Kirby noted that this is precisely why US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Türkiye, where he discussed all issues related to Syria. 

Addressing the terrorist threat posed by the PKK/YPG, he added that as he has said before, Türkiye has legitimate concerns regarding terrorists. There is a real terrorist threat along the Syrian border, and Turkish citizens are falling victim to these terrorist actions. No one can blame the Turks for their concern.

He also noted that preventing the resurgence of Islamic State (IS) remains a top priority for the US. He confirmed that the US has relations with the PKK/YPG, which operates under the name Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). 

Kirby added that both the US and the SDF should focus on combating IS, while Washington continues engaging in discussions with Türkiye regarding their differences on this matter.

By Naila Huseynova