CENTCOM posts a condolence message for SDF fighters in Turkish language

US Central Command (CENTCOM) posted on its Twitter account a condolence message for two SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) fighters killed by ISIS (Islamic State) in Turkish language, in a potential move to irritate the Turkish government. 

“Our SDF partners suffered 2 fatal casualties at the hands of ISIS facilitators attempting to escape the #DefeatISIS mission at #al_hol in #Syria. We send our condolences & remain resolved to support our partners in this critical mission,” CENTCOM said in a Twitter post.

SDG ortaklarımız, Suriye'de Al Hol'den kaçmaya çalışan IŞİD kolaylaştırıcıları tarafından 2 kayıp verdi. Başsağlığı dileklerimizi iletiyor ve bu kritik görevde ortaklarımızı destekleme kararlılığımızı sürdürüyoruz. #DefeatISIS https://t.co/TwO7ccC952

— ABD Merkez Kuvvetler Komutanlığı (CENTCOM) (@CentcomTurkish) September 8, 2022

On 22 July, when CENTCOM posted another condolence message for an SDF commander killed by a Turkish drone strike, Turkish government responded angrily. 

“They are in delusion, there's no explanation for this. When our American allies remember this tomorrow, they will be upset and say, 'We did something very wrong',” said Hulusi Akar, Turkey’s Defense Minister.

And Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said: “What CENTCOM did is unacceptable. This is a good example that shows the insincerity of the US in fight against terror.”

Turkey views the US backed SDF as a terrorist organization citing its main component YPG’s affiliations with the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) which has been fighting against Turkey for four decades. 

Turkey has conducted three incursions into northern Syria since 2016, in operations targeting mainly the U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish YPG militia.