"We have explicitly stated to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that we do not support the establishment of an independent Kurdish state in the region," Robuk told Asharq al-Awsat.

"The situation in Syrian Kurdistan is different from that in Iraqi Kurdistan," Robuk said, adding that "The international coalition has come to defeat ISIS. We have supported the Syrian Democratic Army to fight effectively against ISIS, not to control northeastern Syria."

The retired US envoy to Syria said his country had conditions for co-operation with the SDF and stated that: "To maintain contact with the United States and the international coalition in the fight against ISIS, to establish security in the eastern part of Syria and to make statements and measures to establish an independent Kurdish state or to use a specific ideology symbolized by [the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) Jailed Leader Abdullah] Ocalan should not provoke Turkey."

"The United States does not see the SDF as a branch of the PKK, but as part of the fight against ISIS," Reebok stressed.

Reporter's code: 50101