Turkey asked the United States for unconditional support in the fight against the Syrian Kurdish YPG.
The United States supports the YPG, also known as People’s Protection Units, in the battles against the Islamic State in Syria. The Turks believe the YPG was responsible for Wednesday’s bomb attack in Ankara that killed scores of people.
The YPG is a section of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party. Turkey says they are terrorists. The U.S. does not agree.
American officials could not confirm nor deny that the YPG was behind the bombing. A Kurdish militant group based in Turkey – the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK) – claimed responsibility for the bombing. A Turkish government official rejected TAK’s statement as a false claim last week.
President Barack Obama spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan by telephone Friday. Obama shared his concern about the fighting in Syria. Obama promised the U.S.’s support for the Turks.
The two NATO members said they would remain united against the Islamic State.
I’m Jim Dresbach.
Information for this story came from VOANews. Jim Dresbach adapted this report for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor.
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Words in This Story
unconditional — adj. without limits, complete
scores of – adj. a large number; many
section – n. part of a larger group of organization
NATO – n. short for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization