Turkey launching military operation against US-backed Kurds in Saudi Arabia

Erdogan announced military operation against Kurdish forces

The United States has warned against any unilateral military action in northern Syria after Turkey announced a military operation against the Kurds.

A spokesman for the Pentagon said on Wednesday that any unilateral action by any party northeast of Syria was "a serious and unacceptable concern".

He warned that he could expose US troops in the region to risks.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced a new military operation "within days" against Kurdish militants, backed by the United States, in northern Syria. Ankara regards them as "terrorists".

Ankara and Washington have long been at odds over Syria, where the United States has supported units to protect the Kurdish people in fighting against the organization of the Islamic state, which Turkey objects to.

Turkey sees Kurdish protection units as a "terrorist" organization and an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is leading an insurgency against Ankara.

The Pentagon believes that any unilateral military action would undermine the common interest of permanently securing the border between Syria and Turkey.

Turkey has already launched military operations in northern Syria, but did not cross the river to the east to avoid confrontation with US forces.

But Erdogan said, "We will begin the process of cleansing East Euphrates from the separatist terrorists in a few days.

The Pentagon said coordination and consultation between the United States and Turkey was the only way to address security concerns, and Washington was focusing on working closely with Ankara.