Obama supports Turkey

Obama Backs Turkey Against Syrian Government, PKK in Call to Erdogan

US President Barack Obama warned the Syrian Kurdish People Protection Units (YPG) not to seize additional territory in Syria, and pledged support for Turkey against Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) guerrillas in a phone call to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday, the White House said.

Sputnik News,

20 February, 2016

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Obama also emphasized the unwavering commitment of the United States to Turkey’s national security as a NATO Ally, and agreed to deepen cooperation in the fight against all forms of terrorism, including the PKK and Daesh, the read out said.

"President Obama stressed that YPG forces should not seek to exploit circumstances in this area to seize additional territory, and urged Turkey to show reciprocal restraint by ceasing artillery strikes in the area," the White House read out, released on Friday, said.

Obama also expressed his concern to Erdogan about recent Syrian army advances in northwest Syria, and urgently called for a halt to actions that heighten tensions with Turkey and with allegedly moderate opposition forces in northern Syria, the read out continued.

"The president condemned and offered condolences for the February 17 terrorist attack in Ankara, which killed and wounded both military personnel and civilians, and the February 18 terrorist attack against a Turkish military convoy in Diyarbakir Province."