Turkey upset over images of U.S. soldiers with Kurdish insignia
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 27 May 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Turkey upset over images of U.S. soldiers with Kurdish insignia, 27 May 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5769016f33.html [accessed 21 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
May 27, 2016
Images appear to show U.S. soldiers in Syria wearing the patches of local Kurdish fighters
Turkey has lashed out at the United States after images emerged appearing to show U.S. soldiers operating with Kurdish fighters near the front line of an offensive in northern Syria.
In some pictures, soldiers identified as U.S. special forces are seen wearing the patch of the Kurdish People's Protection Units, which are fighting against the Islamic State (IS) group.
"It is unacceptable that U.S. soldiers wear the emblem of a terrorist organization," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on May 27.
The U.S. military has not commented directly on the images, but says it has some 300 troops in Syria to train and assist rebels in a non-combat role.
The images emerged after Kurdish and Arab fighters launched a military campaign to drive IS militants back from territory north of their stronghold of Raqqa.
Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, and the BBC
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
