US President Donald Trump said he does not want the Kurds to be involved in the war, saying their participation could make the situation more complicated.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One earlier in the day, Trump said the US was not looking for the Kurds to enter the conflict. “We’re not looking to the Kurds going in,” he said, adding that the war is already complex. He also said he does not want Kurdish fighters to be hurt or killed, noting that the United States has maintained a good relationship with them. Although Kurdish groups are willing to take part, Trump said he has told them not to get involved.
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His remarks came after Reuters reported that the president said on Thursday he would be “all for” an offensive by Iranian Kurdish fighters.
Earlier, the White House denied a report that Trump was considering arming the Kurds, many of whom had previously been trained by US forces to fight against the Islamic State group in Iraq.
Meanwhile, Iranian Kurdish opposition groups based in northern Iraq told BBC that their fighters have not yet crossed the border, rejecting claims that they had already done so.
Hana Yazdanpana of the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK), which says it has the largest armed force, said she had repeatedly asked the US to impose a no-fly zone to protect Kurdish fighters.
#From BBC