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Foreign Ministry: Ankara Condemns US Appeal to Stop Shelling Kurds in Syria

© AP Photo / Halit Onur SandalTurkish artillery fire from the border near Kilis toward northern Syria, in Kilis, Turkey, Monday, Feb. 15, 2016.
Turkish artillery fire from the border near Kilis toward northern Syria, in Kilis, Turkey, Monday, Feb. 15, 2016. - Sputnik International
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Turkey strongly condemned US call to stop Ankara's shelling the Kurdish militia in Syria, as the latter are seen as terrorist by Ankara, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic said on Monday.

Turkish security forces block the road leading to Cizre, on September 9, 2015 - Sputnik International
Syrian Kurds: Turkish Army ‘Can’t Stop Our Fight Against Terrorists’
MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, US State Department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement that Turkey and Syrian Kurdish forces should move to deescalate tensions in northern Syria, claiming that Ankara and the Kurdish militia both face a serious threat from Daesh, encouraging them to focus on anti-Daesh efforts.

"We took with bewilderment the US attempt to put Turkey on par with a terrorist organization. Turkey's actions are aimed at the fight against terrorism, Turkey strongly condemns statements by Kirby, our strong protest has been brought to the attention of the US authorities," Bilgic told a press briefing.

Backdropped by a Turkish forces armoured personnel carrier, residents walk around after the 24-hour curfew was lifted, in the mostly-Kurdish town of Silopi, in southeastern Turkey, near the border with Iraq, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016 - Sputnik International
Erdogan’s Cruel Calculus: Killing Kurds at Home and in Syria Means Votes
On Saturday, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Turkish forces had shelled Kurdish People's Defense Units (YPG) positions in northern Syria as a retaliatory measure within rules of engagement. The attacks continued on Sunday.

The Kurds comprise ancient tribal groups, which are currently living in parts of Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria. In Turkey, Kurds represent the largest ethnic minority, and are striving to create their own independent state, which is not welcomed by Ankara.

YPG is the military wing of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD). Ankara considers the group to be an affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is deemed a terrorist organization by Ankara.

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