Turkish clashes heighten tensions in Syria

ANKARA, Turkey — The U.S. on Monday urged Turkish troops and Kurdish forces in northern Syria to halt their fighting, saying it hinders efforts to defeat the Islamic State group.

[...] Turkey’s president vowed to press ahead with the military operation until the Islamic State and Kurdish Syrian fighters no longer pose a security threat to Ankara.

“Uncoordinated operations and maneuvers only provide room for ISIL to find sanctuary and continue planning attacks against Turkey, the SDF, the United States, and our partners around the world,” the statement said, using an acronym for the militants.

Turkey’s Hurriyet newspaper, in an online edition, quoted Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus as responding to the Pentagon by saying the U.S. should keep to its promise and use its influence to press its Kurdish allies to withdraw to the east.