Insanity of war on ISIS: US supports Kurdish forces - at the same time Turkey BOMBS them

The insanity of the fight against Islamic State (ISIS) has seen the US support the terror group's biggest opponents - but at the same time Turkey BOMB them.

Forces from the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) are currently receiving air support from the United States-led coalition, as they represent the jihadists' fiercest enemy on the ground.

But, since Turkey joined the war against ISIS last week, they have begun to launch airstrikes against both the PKK and ISIS, with their officials saying there is "no difference" between the Kurdish group and ISIS.

Turkey launched an offensive against ISIS following attacks at its border with Syria and is working with the US to build a "safe zone" in the region by forcing the jihadis out.

But at the same time it started bombing PKK in its Iraq-heartland.

The PKK, a strong opponent of ISIS, is affiliated with another Kurdish group, YPG (People's Protection Units), which is based in Syria and has also claimed it has been targeted by Turkey.

KaniXulam, director of the American Kurdish Network, accused America of supporting the attacks and therefore sacrificing the Kurds to Turkey.

He told Middle Eastern Eye: "It looks like Washington gave Turkey a green light to drop bombs on PKK Kurds in Iraq so the US can work with Turkey to eliminate ISIS in Syria.

"But this conflicts with another US interest: working with the YPG and PKK, which have been their most effective boots on the ground against ISIS.

"[President] Obama thinks he can contain the situation with Turkey's help, but that's like mopping up with a dirty cloth. Turkey has its own agenda. The daily bomb attacks that we see in Iraq and Syria we will start seeing weekly in Turkey."

The attacks on YPG were said to have taken place at a Syrian border village.

But officials in Turkish capital Ankara have denied it is behind the bombing.

A Turkish government source said: "The Syrian Kurds are not a target of the operations. Our operations only target ISIS in Syria and PKK in Iraq."

However, Turkey has admitted it would prefer moderate forces to take over any vacuum left by an ISIS departure from the border.

Prime Minister AhmetDavutolu said on Turkish television: "Moderate forces like the Free Syrian Army will be strengthened, a structure will be created so that they can take control of areas freed from ISIS."
By Rob Virtue