US calls for halt to Turkish, Kurdish clashes in north Syria

ANKARA, Turkey — The U.S. on Monday urged Turkish troops and Kurdish forces in northern Syria to halt their fighting, saying it hinders efforts to defeat the Islamic State group. But Turkey’s president vowed to press ahead with the military operation until the Islamic State militia and Kurdish Syrian fighters no longer pose a security threat to Ankara.

It was the first U.S. criticism of its NATO ally since Turkey launched a U.S.-backed incursion into northern Syria to help Syrian rebels seize the town of Jarablus from the Islamic State group. They have been clashing with Kurdish Syrian forces around the town to try to halt their advance.

The battle pits Turkey against the Kurdish-led force known as the Syria Democratic Forces — a U.S.-backed proxy that is the most effective ground force battling Islamic State militants in Syria.