The U.S. gathered leaders of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) at the Incirlik Airbase to meet Turkish generals, a Washington Post columnist claimed Wednesday.
In a column in which he discussed why the U.S. is not a trusted ally in the Middle East, David Ignatius wrote that Washington tried but failed earlier this year to fix Turkey’s enmity for the SDF.
“Before the Manbij offensive began in May, the United States brought to Incirlik Air Base in Turkey a delegation from the Syrian Democratic Forces, a coalition that nominally oversees the YPG,” he claimed.
The effort failed, according to the Ignatius, because of the July 15 coup attempt as some of the generals meeting the SDF leaders are now under arrest as suspected coup plotters.
Neither Turkish authorities nor U.S. military personnel have yet to confirm the claims but Pentagon officials told Anadolu Agency that they are now hearing about for first time.
One official said the U.S. is communicating with both parties as part of its counter-Daesh effort but does not recall a meeting between Turkish generals and the SDF members.