US-Turkish relations have been strained by US support for the Kurdish YPG, which Turkey views as a terrorist group and an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party that has for decades waged a separatist insurgency in Turkey. The Kurdish YPG has been a US ally in the fight against the Islamic State, IS jihadists and it controls swaths of northern Syria. Likewise, do not want the Kurds to provoke Turkey," Trump tweeted. Both men emphasised the need to avoid letting anything block the planned withdrawal of US forces from Syria, Ankara added. Trump gave no details about the safe zone proposal, but Pompeo said Washington wanted to provide security for those who have fought Islamic State and to prevent any attack on Turkey from Syria.

Source: Dhaka Tribune January 15, 2019 15:45 UTC