A Turkish defense official was cited by Turkish state media on Tuesday as saying Ankara was discussing with the United States and Russia a potential offensive in a region of northeast Syria controlled by Kurdish-led fighters, Reuters reported.

“The US is not discussing a Turkish offensive into northeast Syria with Turkey,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Turkey wants to set up a safe zone in the border area east of the Euphrates River after the majority of US troops pull out of the country.

The US military has been supporting Kurdish-led forces there who are fighting Islamic State. Turkey, however, views the Kurdish YPG fighters who are the backbone of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, as terrorists and has threatened to launch operations against them.

“We have had repeated discussions on a security mechanism or ‘safe zone’ in northeast Syria that would address Turkey’s security concerns,” the official said.

“The details of the security mechanism are being discussed and developed, but from the US perspective would not require a Turkish offensive.”

The US-backing of the SDF is only one of the major flashpoints in the US-Turkey relationship.

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