Call from US and Turkey's Defense Departments

In a statement by Pentagon Press Secretary Patrick Ryder, it is noted that US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and his Turkish counterpart, Yaşar Güler, spoke during a phone call on Sunday about the need to avoid further escalation in Syria, as well as the risks to US forces and their partners.

According to Ryder, the defense ministers of the two countries "discussed the developments in Syria." Austin emphasized that the "US is closely monitoring the statements and actions of various organizations in Syria." The ministers agreed that these groups should take measures to ensure the safety of the civilian population, including for ethnic and religious minorities, and adhere to international humanitarian norms.

Austin and Güler reaffirmed the importance of close cooperation between the US and Turkey to prevent further escalation, avoiding any risks to US forces and their partners, as well as to combat the terrorist organization ISIS. The Pentagon head acknowledged Turkey's legitimate security concerns and discussed the threats posed by ISIS and other hostile actors in the region.