Thread:

#Turkey is locking horns with the #US over #Iraq.

#Erdogan is racking pressure on Washington after the @StateDept statement on the killing of 13 Turkish soldiers and officers in a cave complex in northern #Iraq.

DoS deplored the attack but hesitated to repeat Ankara's allegations that the #PKK was behind it, stating it was waiting for further confirmation.

#Erdogan hasn't minced words, criticizing the US' policy in #Iraq, stating in a recent speech in Rize: “After this, there are 2 options. Either act with #Turkey with no ifs or buts, without questioning, or they will be a partner to every murder & bloodshed."

Erdogan also suggested that divergence over the #PKK could threaten the progression of the #NATO alliance, stating, "you must not take the side of the terrorists. You have to be on our side."

And today, Ankara summoned the #US ambassador to #Turkey, David Satterfield, to the @MFATurkey for a dressing down, condemning the US' statement "in the strongest way possible."

We've seen this before from #Erdogan before (remember the 2019 #NATO summit?), where #Turkey seeks to assert the #PKK issue as a wedge with the #US & alliance members.