President of Turkey and the leader of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Recep Tayyip Erdogan makes a speech during the inauguration of ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's Politics Academy in Ankara, Turkey on March 09, 2018. Halil Sa??r
ISTANBUL: Turkey's president has criticized NATO for not supporting the country's ongoing military operation against Syrian Kurdish fighters in Syria.
Speaking to supporters Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked, "Hey NATO, where are you?" and accused the alliance of double standards. Erdogan said Turkey sent troops to conflict zones when requested, but did not receive support in return.
Turkey launched a solo military offensive against the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units or YPG on Jan. 20 to clear them from Afrin in northwestern Syria. The country considers the YPG a terror organization but its NATO ally, the United States, backs the fighters to combat the Islamic State group.
Erdogan urged NATO to come to the aid of Turkey, saying its borders are "under threat right now."
