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Kurdish militia role in Raqqa offensive could trigger ethnic conflict

ANKARA- An offensive to retake the Syrian city of Raqqa from Islamic State using Kurdish militia fighters would trigger an ethnic conflict there, a senior Turkish official said and warned that the operation should avoid triggering further divisions.

 

The official said Syrian Kurdish YPG has so far failed to entirely withdraw from the Syrian city of Manbij west of the Euphrates river despite promises for it to do so.

 

Turkey views the YPG as a hostile force with deep links to Kurdish militants who have fought a three-decade insurgency on Turkish soil, putting it at odds with Washington which sees the YPG as a valuable and effective ally in its fight against ISIS in Syria.

 


פרסום ראשון: 09.30.16, 09:22