bsruzm
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"Senior Turkish officials say they see no difference between Kurdish 'terrorists' of YPG and foreigners who joined the group to fight IS
Senior Turkish officials have warned that their armed forces will confront as "terrorists" British and foreign volunteers fighting with the Kurdish YPG militia in Syria - and that any casualties will be the responsibility of their own governments.
In comments to Middle East Eye, a spokesman for the Turkish prime minister, Binali Yildirim, said British, French, American and other citizens fighting alongside the YPG would be treated as "terrorists... regardless of whether they are members of allied countries".
Scores of foreign fighters, including British citizens, have joined the YPG under its umbrella organisation, the Syrian Democratic Forces, and have fought to expel IS from towns including Kobane, Manbij and Tal Abayad.
But the rapidly changing situation since the Turkish incursion means that these British subjects could now be hunted down by the army of a NATO ally.
“Turkey does not differentiate on the basis of nationality when it comes to membership in terrorist organisations,” said Yunus Akbaba, an adviser to Yildirim. “In the heat of battle we are not going to stop and ask the terrorists what their nationality is.
“Turkey will not hesitate to confront terrorist organisations within the scope of its operation. These are terrorist groups and anyone fighting under their banner will be considered terrorists,” he said.
“It is the responsibility of the countries where they come from to prevent them from joining these groups. Turkish forces will confront them if they are fighting under the banner of terrorist groups, regardless of whether they are members of allied countries,” he said.
Akbaba said Turkey has, to date, deported around 5,000 foreign fighters while trying to enter Syria from Turkey and that it is the responsibility of their native countries to deal with them. He said most of the deported fighters were headed to join IS but some were also trying to join the YPG. "
They should be hunted.
Senior Turkish officials have warned that their armed forces will confront as "terrorists" British and foreign volunteers fighting with the Kurdish YPG militia in Syria - and that any casualties will be the responsibility of their own governments.
In comments to Middle East Eye, a spokesman for the Turkish prime minister, Binali Yildirim, said British, French, American and other citizens fighting alongside the YPG would be treated as "terrorists... regardless of whether they are members of allied countries".
Scores of foreign fighters, including British citizens, have joined the YPG under its umbrella organisation, the Syrian Democratic Forces, and have fought to expel IS from towns including Kobane, Manbij and Tal Abayad.
But the rapidly changing situation since the Turkish incursion means that these British subjects could now be hunted down by the army of a NATO ally.
“Turkey does not differentiate on the basis of nationality when it comes to membership in terrorist organisations,” said Yunus Akbaba, an adviser to Yildirim. “In the heat of battle we are not going to stop and ask the terrorists what their nationality is.
“Turkey will not hesitate to confront terrorist organisations within the scope of its operation. These are terrorist groups and anyone fighting under their banner will be considered terrorists,” he said.
“It is the responsibility of the countries where they come from to prevent them from joining these groups. Turkish forces will confront them if they are fighting under the banner of terrorist groups, regardless of whether they are members of allied countries,” he said.
Akbaba said Turkey has, to date, deported around 5,000 foreign fighters while trying to enter Syria from Turkey and that it is the responsibility of their native countries to deal with them. He said most of the deported fighters were headed to join IS but some were also trying to join the YPG. "
They should be hunted.
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