Erdogan Claims US Supports Militants who Executed Turkish Forces in Iraq

Arab World

February 15th, 12:39pm

Asharq Al-Awsat

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (AP)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the United States on Monday of supporting Kurdish militants who Ankara says executed 13 kidnapped Turks in northern Iraq, adding that a US statement of condemnation was a "a joke". Turkey said on Sunday militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) executed the 13 Turks, including military and police personnel, amid a military operation against the group. Washington said it condemned the killings if reports that the PKK was responsible were confirmed. Erdogan told supporters of his AK Party that the US statement showed it supported the PKK and the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara considers an offshoot of the PKK.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2806756/erdogan-claims-us-supports-militants-who-executed-turkish-forces-iraq