Tayyip Erdogan told supporters of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) that the United States supported Kurdish rebels who, according to Ankara, had “executed” 13 Turks in northern Turkey and described as “funny” the announcement by which Washington condemns the incident.

“The statements made by the United States are inadmissible. You say you do not support the terrorists, but in fact you are on their side,” he said during his speech.

Ankara announced yesterday that PKK guerrillas had executed 13 Turks, including military and police personnel, while a Turkish military operation against Kurdish rebels was underway.

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According to Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar, Turkish soldiers discovered 13 bodies in a cave in the Gara region of northern Iraq, where Ankara has been conducting a military operation against the PKK since Wednesday. The PKK is considered a terrorist organization by Ankara and the Western allies.

The PKK acknowledged the deaths of a group of prisoners yesterday, but rejected Ankara’s version, saying they were killed during Turkish airstrikes.

The State Department condemned the incident. “If the information about the death of Turkish citizens at the hands of the PKK, a terrorist organization, is confirmed, we condemn these actions in the harshest terms,” a statement said.

Erdogan told his supporters that the US statement showed that Washington supported the PKK and the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara considers a branch of the PKK.

Washington considers the PKK a terrorist organization, but supports the People’s Protection Units, on which the United States has backed its fight against Islamic State. This support for the Syrian Kurdish armed organization is at the heart of US-Turkish relations.

“If we are together in NATO and you want to preserve NATO unity, you must act honestly. You cannot side with the terrorists. If you want to be on one side, be on our side,” Erdogan told Washington.

Turkey has been systematically conducting operations against the PKK’s rear bases in northern Iraq, operations that are causing tensions between Ankara and Baghdad.

Tayyip Erdogan systematically reiterates that Turkey is dealing with the PKK in northern Iraq, “since Baghdad cannot do it.”

“No country, person or institution can challenge Turkey’s military operations (in Iraq) after the Gara massacre,” Erdogan said today.

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Source: ΑNA MPA  / * Stock Photo