Turkey threaten further action against Kurdish militia in Syria as US warn over 'unacceptable' clashes

A Turkish soldier on an armoured vehicle as they drive back from the Turkey-Syria border to their base. Credit: Reuters

The US has said fighting between Turkish forces and Turkish-backed Syrian rebels and Kurdish-led forces in northern Syria is "unacceptable".

Turkey crossed the border last week in an offensive which it said was aimed at helping Syrian rebels seize the town of Jarablus from so-called Islamic State.

Turkey launched its operation targeting IS fighters and Kurdish militants in Syria last week.

But since then Turkey and Turkish-backed forces have also pressed into areas controlled by Kurdish YPG militia and targeted its fighters.

On Monday, Syrian Kurdish YPG have claimed Turkey fired at their forces in Hasaka province wounding one fighter, hundreds of miles east of their main incursion into northern Syria.

Responding to the recent clashes, Brett McGurk, US special envoy for the global coalition to counter IS, tweeted that they were "a source of deep concern".

Turkey has also warned predominantly Kurdish Syrian forces of more strikes by its forces unless they retreat east of the River Euphrates immediately.

Turkey's foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said: "The YPG has to immediately cross east of the Euphrates River as they promised the United States and as they announced they would."

"If they don't, they will be a target," he added.

Turkish army tanks pictured driving towards to the border in Karkamis on August 25. Credit: Reuters.

  • Obama to hold talks with Turkey's President

The White House has said US President Barack Obama will meet Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan next week.

Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes said Mr Obama wants to discuss the recent attempted coup in Turkey "as well as our counter ISIL campaign and our efforts that promote stability in Syria and to respond to the refugee crisis".

Turkey's President and US President Barack Obama will meet ahead of the G20 summit in China. Credit: Reuters

  • Why is there conflict with Turkey and Kurdish YPG?

There has long been conflict between Turkey and the Kurdish YPG militants, whom it views as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) - a Turkish-Kurdish rebel group fighting for autonomy within Turkey.

It fears attempts by Syrian Kurds to extend their control along the border with Syria could add momentum to the Kurdish insurgency within Turkey.