Turkey summons US ambassador

BELGRADE - Ankara has summoned the US ambassador to Turkey to explain Washington's "unacceptable" comments about Turkey's anti-ISIS operation in Syria, rejecting any talk of a ceasefire with the US-backed Kurdish militia and vowing to "eliminate all threats."

Turkish forces crossed into Syria on August 24, targeting Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) positions along the border. As IS fighters melted away, however, Turkish troops involved in 'Operation Euphrates Shield' clashed with the Kurdish YPG militia, part of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Washington has since called on Turkey to refrain from targeting the Kurds, with the State Department spokesman John Kirby saying this was "not helping us degrade and destroy" IS, while Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said the reports of clashes were "a source of deep concern."

US Defense Secretary Ash...