Middle East

U.S. IS GIVING WEAPONS TO TERROR GROUP IN SYRIA, TURKEY SAYS

Turkey has summoned top diplomats from the U.S., Russia and Iran, accusing Washington of giving supplies to Kurdish militant groups and criticizing Moscow and Tehran for their support of a pro-government offensive in northwestern Syria.

Citing local sources, Turkey's Hurriyet Daily News and official Anadolu Agencyreported Wednesday that Ankara summoned Washington's charge d'affairs Philip Kosnett over the U.S.'s continued support for the People's Protection Units (YPG), a Kurdish militia that has dominated the Pentagon's efforts to battle the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) in Syria. Turkey has labeled the YPG a terrorist organization over its alleged ties to an ongoing Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) insurgency at home. Turkey entered the war in Syria on the U.S.'s side, but has grown increasingly distant over U.S. support for Kurdish militants.