Trump says he hopes YPG/PKK abandon fighting Turkey

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday he hoped the PYD/YPG, the Syrian offshoot of PKK terror group, would "back up" fighting Turkish military in northeastern Syria.

"I hope they do, because it is very hard to beat a force with that planes they don’t, where they have weapons that Kurds don’t have," said Trump at the Values Voter Summit.

Turkey on Wednesday launched Operation Peace Spring to purge terrorists from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.

Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates River of the terrorist PYD/YPG/PKK.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the European Union -- has been responsible for deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.