US seeks to defuse diplomatic spat with Turkey

 Turkey had earlier summoned US ambassador to Ankara, infuriated by conditionality of a US statement on the deaths of 13 Turks.

The United States has attempted to de-escalate a diplomatic dispute with NATO ally Turkey, which had earlier summoned the US ambassador about a statement on the killing of 13 kidnapped Turks in Iraq.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had lashed out at the State Department initials initial hesitance to blame the Kurdistan Workers ’Party (PKK) for the deaths, calling the initial US statement“ a farce ”.

Turkey said on Sunday fighters from the outlawed PKK executed the 13 captives, including Turkish military and police personnel. The PKK blamed Turkish air raids for the 13 deaths.

The US initially said it condemned the killings if it was confirmed that responsibility lay with the PKK.

Ankara, already angered by Washington ”s partnership with Kurdish fighters in neighboring Syria, was infuriated by the conditionality of the US statement and summoned the US ambassador to Ankara to convey “in the strongest terms” its reaction.

Later on Monday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a phone call with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu expressed condolences and said Washington believed the PKK was responsible for the deaths.

“The Secretary expressed condolences for the deaths of Turkish hostages in northern Iraq and affirmed our view that PKK terrorists bear responsibility,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

Turkey this month launched a military operation against PKK bases in northern Iraq that Erdogan said on Monday was designed in part to free the 13 hostages.

At least 48 members of the Kurdish armed group were also killed during the operation, according to Turkey’s defense minister.

The PKK, dubbed a “terrorist” group by the US and Turkey Thes other Western allies, has been waging an armed rebellion against the Turkish state since 1984 that is believed to have left tens of thousands dead.