US defense chief says PKK poses threat to Turkey, should pull out of Iraqi region
The PKK’s presence in northern Iraq’s Sinjar district is a threat to Turkey, defense chief James Mattis said Tuesday
"There is a PKK threat in Sinjar, across the border in northern Iraq against Turkey," Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon, adding that the group is a designated terrorist organization by the U.S. and the U.S. wants the group to pull out of the area.
Describing Turkey as a NATO ally, Mattis also said the U.S. stands with Ankara and he prefers direct communication with Turkish authorities instead of through the media because it is "a very sensitive issue for Turks", referring to PKK terrorists.
There are approximately 3,000 PKK terrorists in Sinjar, where they are being trained by several military experts, according to Yalman Haceroglu, the director-general of Turkmeneli TV who interviewed a PKK member in the area.
On Sunday, Iraqi troops were deployed in Sinjar after members of the PKK terrorist group withdrew from the district a day earlier.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stressed his country would not allow Sinjar to become a stronghold for the PKK, which established a presence there in 2014 on the pretext of fighting the Daesh terrorist group.
The PKK has fought a 33-year war against Turkey that has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths.
Additionally, Mattis said there has been no move against Manbij by Turkish forces so far, adding that dialogue continues with Ankara in a response to a question about Turkey's possible military operations against YPG/PKK terrorists in Manbij.
"We have open dialogue with the Turkish government right now," he added.
"We are working it forward. We are not stuck on anything right now. So far as you have noticed there has been no move on Manbij.
Turkish troops launched a military operation Jan. 20 to clear terrorist groups from Afrin, which was liberated earlier this month amid growing terror threats posed from the region to Turkey.
Ankara said it might also extend its operation further east to Manbij unless the PYD/PKK terrorist group leaves the strategically located city.
However, U.S. military support for the terrorist PYD/PKK group in Manbij has strained ties between Ankara and Washington and has led to fears of potential clashes between troops of the two NATO allies.
There are approximately 2,000 American troops in the city.
* Kasim Ileri contributed to this report
