Erdogan accuses U.S. of backing PKK

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the United States of supporting Kurdish militants on Monday, days after Turkish troops found the bodies of 13 Turkish soldiers, police and civilians killed by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party in northern Iraq .

Erdogan also criticized a U.S. State Department statement that deplored the hostages’ deaths, adding that the U.S. would condemn the deaths “in the strongest possible terms” if it is confirmed that they died at the hands of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, which Turkey considers to be terrorists but which were allied with the United States in the fight against Daesh.

Turkey said the hostages, who were held captive for years, were killed by the PKK. But the People’s Defense Center, which is the party’s military wing, said that Turkish forces shelled the cave, leading to the hostages’ death.

Earlier Monday, Turkey summoned U.S. Ambassador David Satterfield to the Foreign Ministry over the previous statement.

Turkey has been pressing the US to end its policy of arming the Syrian Kurds, who are in close contact with their offshoots in Iraq.