Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said he has evidence that U.S.-led coalition forces have given support to terrorist groups, including the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Syrian Kurdish forces.
“They were accusing us of supporting Daesh,” Erdoğan told a press conference in Ankara alongside visiting Guinean President Alpha Conde on Dec. 27.
“Now they’ve all vanished and they’re giving support to terrorist groups including Daesh, YPG and the PYD.
It’s very clear. We have confirmed evidence, with pictures, photos and videos,” he said.
Turkey regards the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its military wing the People’s Protection Unit (YPG) as terror organizations due to their links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), with which it has been fighting against since mid-1980s.
‘Coalition forces not keeping promises’ in al-Bab, says Erdoğan
Erdoğan also accused the coalition forces of not supporting Turkey in its campaign to liberate northern Syria town of al-Bab from ISIL militants.
“The coalition forces are unfortunately not keeping their promises,” said Erdoğan, adding that coalition forces were displaying a different stance than previously promised.
“Whether they do or they don’t, we will continue along this path in a determined way. There is no going back on the path we have set out on,” he added.