Turkish official: There is no ceasefire agreement between Türkiye and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in northern Syria

ANKARA (Reuters) – There is no ceasefire agreement between Turkey and the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in northern Syria, contrary to a U.S. announcement on the issue, a Turkish Defense Ministry official said on Thursday.

The official also said that Turkey believes Turkish-backed Syrian National Army forces will “liberate” areas occupied by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militia and the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria.

The Syrian Democratic Forces are an ally in the American coalition against ISIS. It is led by the People’s Protection Units, a group that Ankara views as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, whose fighters have been fighting the Turkish state for 40 years.