Erdogan Says He Has Evidence That US Supported ISIS in Syria

US Insists Claims 'Ludicrous'

Speaking at a press conference today, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed to have evidence that the Obama Administration and its coalition have been supporting several terrorist organizations across Syria, saying he had pictures, photos, and videos.

Erdogan complaining about terrorists usually means Kurds, and indeed he mentioned US support for the Kurdish YPG, and their political wing the PYD in his comments. He went much further however, also claiming the US had been supporting ISIS directly.

Turkey is in the process of invading northern Syria itself, and is fighting ISIS forces in al-Bab. Erdogan is seeking US coalition airstrikes against the city, and this allegation, awkward though it is, may be another effort to get leverage and to get the US to go along with one of his schemes.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner angrily condemned Erdogan’s “ludicrous” comments, saying there was “no basis” for the claims. Whether there is or not remains to be seen, as Erdogan did not publicly offer any of the evidence he has.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.