<p style="text-align: left;">“We reiterated the inappropriateness of the YPG presence here [in northern Syria] as a terrorist [group] which is no different from the PKK and U.S. soldiers spending time and cooperating with them,” Hulusi Akar told Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency following his meeting early on Nov. 18 with Gen. Joseph Dunford, the U.S. joint chiefs of staff chairman.<br /> The closed-door, one-hour meeting, on the sidelines of the Halifax International Security Forum in Canada, addressed Nov. 11 photos showing U.S. soldiers stationed in Manbij -- in northern Syria, near the Turkish border -- having a U.S. Veterans Day dinner with YPG militants.<br /> Akar said Turkey scolded the U.S. about the “provocative and unacceptable” images of YPG militants having dinner with U.S. soldiers and said he expects this not to be repeated.<br /> Akar also said that the U.S. cooperation with the YPG disturbed Turkey and urged the U.S. to cut these ties as soon as possible.<br /> “We also pointed out that giving weapons and ammunition to the terrorist YPG by truck and airplanes does not fit with the understanding of [the Turkish-U.S.] alliance,” he said.<br /> Reporter's code: 50101</p>