Published date: 15 February 2021 16:25 UTC | Last update: 1 month ago
Turkey on Monday announced the detention of 718 people suspected of having links to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a day after the militant group executed 13 Turks in northern Iraq.
The mass arrests were announced as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan scolded Washington for allegedly giving weapons to the PKK.
“You said you weren’t taking a side with the PKK and YPG. You are actually with them. You are behind them,” Erdogan said, during a televised address.
According to a readout released by the US State Department, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken later on Monday told Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in a first contact since he has taken office that PKK terrorists bear responsibility for the execution of the hostages.