US observes Russia-YPG cooperation

The United States has witnessed cooperation between the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Unit (YPG), the military wing of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), and Russia, according to a top U.S. general. 

Responding to a question as to whether cooperation between the YPG and Russia had been seen, Gen. Lloyd Austin, the head of Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees U.S. forces in the Middle East, said there had been observations of such cooperation in northwestern Syria. 

"I have observed that the YPG groups and Russia have been in cooperation in Syria's northwest," Do?an News Agency quoted Austin as saying on March 8. 

Washington has also worked with the YPG, much to Ankara's chagrin.

Austin was answering questions at the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee along with Gen. David M. Rodriguez, the commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM); and Joseph Votel, the commander of Special Operations Command (SOCOM); regarding U.S. forces' operations against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). 

"It will not be true to say it is a continuous cooperation but I can define it as a cooperation that materializes from time to time," Austin said, in response to Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer. 

A rift between Turkey and the U.S. emerged after the two differed on the designation of the PYD and YPG. While Turkey designates the two groups as terrorist organizations on allegations that they are linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), the U.S. counts the PYD and YPG to be "reliable" sources on the ground in the battle against ISIL. 

"There is evidence toward it," said Austin, when asked if Syrian Kurdish forces were attacking rebels that the U.S. supported. 

Austin also asked for permission...