We will not allow a terror corridor on our southern border: Turkish DefMin

Turkey's Defense Minister Hulusi Akar on Saturday stressed Turkey’s expectation from the Washington administration to halt cooperation with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party’s (PKK) Syrian offshoot, the People’s Protection Units (YPG).

“We expect the U.S. to stop its cooperation with the YPG terror group as promised,” Akar said.

Speaking to reporters at the first session of the Halifax International Security Forum in Canada and reiterating Turkey’s resolute stance against PKK/YPG terror group, he stated: “It is unacceptable for the U.S. to supply arms and ammunition to the YPG terror organization.”

Referring a photo of the U.S soldiers having dinner with YPG terrorists in Syria, he said, "These photos have found wide coverage in our media and disturbed our people. They tarnished the image of the U.S. and its army... for the Turkish public".

“We will not allow the establishment of a terror corridor on our southern border,” Akar added.

Akar visited the Çanakkale Martyrs’ Monument before attending the security forum.

The American Special Representative for Syria James Jeffrey confirmed on Thursday that the PYD/YPG is the Syrian branch of the PKK terror group.

He spoke at a panel at the Defense One Summit, which brings top military, foreign policy and intelligence leaders to Washington to discuss American security throughout the world.

Jeffrey said U.S. operations in Syria could not be done without the "active participation, coordination, and cooperation of Turkey."