The Turkish Foreign Ministry on Monday summoned US ambassador Jeff Flake over the visit over the weekend of a top US general to areas controlled by the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), where US forces are also deployed, in northeastern Syria.
On Saturday, US Joint Chiefs Chair Army General Mark Milley made a surprise visit to an undisclosed US base in the Kurdish-controlled region of Syria.
"General Milley visited Northeast Syria today to meet with commanders and troops," Joint Staff spokesman Col. Dave Butler told Anadolu Agency.
"While there, he received updates on the counter-ISIS mission, inspected force protection measures and assessed repatriation efforts for the Al Hol refugee camp," Butler added.
According to US media reports, reporters traveling with Milley asked if he believed the deployment of around 900 US troops to Syria was worth the risk, he said: "If you think that that's important, then the answer is 'Yes."
US troops have been stationed in Syria since 2015 and today, there are still around 900 soldiers posted in the area known as the Eastern Syria Security Area.
They — along with around 2,500 stationed in Iraq — are ostensibly part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the international coalition to defeat ISIS.
The US support for the Kurdish units, as part of its war on ISIS, has put it at odds with Türkiye, which opposes the presence of the Kurdish forces along its border with Syria.
On Sunday, the Syrian government condemned Milley’s surprise visit, deeming it "illegal," reported state news agency SANA.
Milley's visit was "a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and integrity" of Syrian territory, it added.
