Syrian Kurdish militia

The European Union's top diplomat criticized Turkey on Monday over its military offensive in a northern Syrian town, calling on Ankara to ensure that fighting eases in the conflict-torn country.

With Turkish-led forces stepping up their military operations against the Syrian Kurdish militia, the YPG, in Syria's Kurdish-controlled Afrin enclave, Ankara has reacted cautiously to reports that Damascus is set to intervene militarily.

 The United States is urging Turkey to de-escalate tensions over its military operations in Syria and focus on the fight to defeat the Islamic State militants, amid a growing distrust between two NATO allies, VOA reported. 

The Turkish military continued to shell positions of the Syrian Kurdish militia the People’s Protection Units (YPG) in Syria’s Afrin on Jan. 22, the third day of Operation Olive Branch.

Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister and Government Speaker Bekir Bozhdag described the telephone conversation between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Donald Trump as a "turning point" for the tensions between the two countries, reports 24 chasa. 

When Turkish officials were scrambling to resolve an escalating dispute with the US, their Nato ally this month, they had a plan.

Brett McGurk, the U.S. special envoy for the coalition to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), is set to hold discussions in Ankara on June 30 after his visit to Syria.

McGurk will have talks at the Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry, according to sources. 

The U.S.'s arming of a Syrian Kurdish militia is "extremely dangerous" that could one day harm everyone, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said yesterday, urging Washington to reverse its "mistake." 

The U.S.'s arming of a Syrian Kurdish militia is "extremely dangerous" Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on May 31, urging Washington to reverse its "mistake."

"Such steps are extremely dangerous for Syria's unity and territorial integrity," Çavuşoğlu said, after the United States began providing small arms to fighters of the People's Protection Units (YPG).

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will hold discussions in Washington on May 16 at a delicate time for bilateral ties after U.S. President Donald Trump authorized the direct arming of Syrian Kurdish fighters from the People's Protection Units (YPG).