US to Recoup Weapons That Could Threaten Turkey from PKK/YPG Network

The Pentagon will regain every weapon provided to Syrian YPG (People’s Protection Units)/PKK groups that could threaten Turkey.

"Categorically, we will collect any arms that would threaten our ally Turkey. Turks have the inventory of those,” Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon was quoted as saying by Anadolu Agency Thursday.

However, Pahon did not reveal the exact details on the inventory and number of weapons, saying he has no authority to do so.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization in Turkey, the US and the EU. The PYD and its military wing YPG are Syrian branches of the PKK terrorist network which has waged war against Turkey for more than 30 years and taken thousands of lives.

Responding to a question on whether the US would collect other equipment such as bulldozers, Humvees, IED diggers, mines and hand-made explosives, Pahon said those which do not pose a danger would not be retrieved.

"They are not combat equipment, he added. "We are talking about weapons.”

In addition, Pahon noted that, along with MRAP-type armored vehicles, the US would also collect machine guns, rocket launchers and other weapons that have the ability to counter armored IED-borne vehicles.

According to a Pentagon budget report obtained in early June by Anadolu Agency, the US military provides weapons to the PKK/YPG.

They include 12,000 Kalashnikovs, 6,000 machine guns, 3,500 heavy machine guns, 3,000 US made RPG-7s and 1,000 US made AT-4 or Russian made SPG-9 anti-tank munitions.

Since then, the US has continuously armed the PKK/YPG, which has been heavily criticized by Turkey.