Turkey slams US troops for wearing Kurdish opposition group's badge

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu slammed American soldiers for wearing the insignia of the YPG, which Turkey classes a terrorist organisation, on their official uniforms during their operations against Daesh in Syria.

Addressing a press conference following the first session of the Istanbul Programme of Action for Least-Developed Countries in Turkey’s Mediterranean resort province of Antalya today, Cavusoglu said this was an unacceptable move.

“Wearing an insignia of a terrorist organisation by US soldiers, who are our ally and are assertive about fighting against terrorism, is unacceptable,” he said.

“Our suggestion to them is that they should also wear Daesh, Al-Nusra and Al-Qaeda insignias during their operations in other regions of Syria. They can also wear the Boko Haram insignia when they go to Africa,” he added.

Cavusoglu’s remarks come after photographs of US troops sporting YPG’s insignia’s on their uniforms went viral online.

The pictures show the soldiers near the frontlines of a Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)-led offensive on Daesh’s Syrian stronghold, Raqqa. At least one photo was allegedly taken at Al-Fatisah, a small village 25 kilometres from the city.