The Turkish ambassador to the United States said in an interview that the U.S. would regret its support for Kurdish fighters in Syria, and referred to that support as a strategic mistake. According to the Washington Post, the ambassador’s comments were made in response to calls from the U.S. for Turkey to stop shelling Kurdish fighters in Syria and for both groups to focus on fighting the Islamic State. Kurdish militias have proven effective in countering Islamic State forces in the past, which resulted in the U.S. providing them with support. However, Turkey views them as terrorists, and finds that support to be problematic. Presently, tensions are flaring around attempts by the Kurds to take the town of Azaz, which is both strategically important for fighters in Syria and close to the Turkish border.
Related Articles
What Could Follow the U.S. Surprise in Syria?
CIPHER BRIEF REPORTING – President Donald Trump made a number of headlines this week as he led an impressive delegation of government and private [...] More
Supreme Leader Khamenei’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Year
“Fate is a wheel that turns; in our pride, we sometimes forget how swiftly it can crush us beneath it.” - Attributed to Shah Ismail I, founder of the [...] More
Rumors are Flying Around Erdogan's 'Non-Visit'
OPINION — During the second week of May, U.S. President Joseph Biden was expected to host his Turkish counterpart, President Tayyip Recep Erdogan for [...] More
U.S. Strikes Back: Cipher Brief Experts Weigh in on What it Means
SUBSCRIBER+EXCLUSIVE – Last week’s retaliatory strikes by the U.S. for the killing of three American military service members in Jordan last weekend, [...] More
Message Delivered: U.S. Retaliates for Attack that Killed Service Members
SUBSCRIBER+REPORTING – The U.S. carried out a barrage of airstrikes against more than 85 targets in Iraq and Syria on Friday, shortly after the [...] More
After Iran Proxy Strikes, Should U.S. Troops Leave Iraq and Syria?
SUBSCRIBER+REPORTING – In the wake of Sunday’s strike that killed three Americans and injured dozens more at a small U.S. base in Jordan – the first [...] More