US plays down rift with Turkey over support for YPG

The United States sought to play down a diplomatic rift with Turkey on May 27 after U.S. commandos were caught on camera wearing badges of a Syrian Kurdish group, Hurriyet news agency reported. 

"We understand Turkey's concerns, let me make that clear, and we continue to discuss this as well as other concerns Turkey has," The US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.

Toner said that Washington does not regard the YPG, which operates in Syria, as part of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

"With respect to Turkey's comments about these photos we've been very clear... about our belief that the YPG is not connected to the PKK," Toner said.

"On the contrary, we believe the YPG as well as other forces in northern Syria are effectively taking the fight to ISIL," he added.