Turkish official confirmed no ceasefire agreement exists with the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in northern Syria

A Turkish defense ministry official stated on Thursday that there is no ceasefire agreement in place between Turkey and the U.S.-supported Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northern Syria, despite a U.S. announcement suggesting otherwise.

The official emphasized Turkey’s belief that the Turkey-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) will “liberate” regions currently held by the Kurdish PKK/YPG militia in northern Syria. The SDF, which is part of the U.S. coalition against Islamic State militants, is primarily led by the YPG, a group that Turkey considers to be an offshoot of the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has been engaged in conflict with the Turkish state for four decades.