Turkey protests US over being lumped together with 'terrorist' PYD

Ankara has protested a statement by Washington classifying Turkey along with the "terrorist organization" Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) in northern Syria, while also warning the Syrian Kurdish militia of a "severe response" if they advance toward Azaz. 

"We have received Kirby's statements, lumping its ally Turkey and a terrorist organization together, with astonishment," Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tanju Bilgiç said Feb. 15.

Bilgiç was referring to comments from U.S. State Department spokesperson John Kirby, who has urged both Turkey and the Syrian Kurds to focus on tackling the "common threat" of militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) who control large parts of Syria. 

Kirby said Washington was urging Kurdish forces and their allies "not to take advantage of a confused situation by seizing new territory" and calling on Turkey to cease its strikes.

Turkey "strongly protested" Kirby's statement and conveyed its unease to U.S. officials, Bilgiç said, vowing Turkey would not seek permission to fight against "any terrorist organizations."

The spokesperson also confirmed that the Turkish Armed Forces shelled positions of the military wing of PYD, the People's Protection Units (YPG), in northern Syria for a third straight day on Feb. 15, saying the move was in retaliation against alleged aggression by the YPG.

"As a result of artillery fire and harassment from Syria toward our country since Saturday [Feb. 13], we have operated [in accordance with] our rules of engagement. On Saturday, Sunday and today, we have responded within the framework of our rules of engagement with retaliation in kind," he said.

"Today, a response to an attack against a border outpost in the...