Fidan says 'elimination' of YPG 'strategic goal,' says Turkey told Israel to stop attacks on Syria

Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan said on Friday that the elimination of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) is a "strategic goal" of Ankara's in Syria. 

The YPG is the backbone of the of US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces and the Syrian wing of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Turkey, which the US, EU and Turkey consider a terror group. The US does not consider the YPG a terror group. 

Fidan said Turkey had lobbied Russia and Iran not to support the collapsed government of Bashar al-Assad, to support a peaceful transition in Syria. 

He added that Turkey told Israel it should stop its attacks on Syria stop their seizure of a buffer zone in the Golan Heights. 

"We want to see a terror-free Syria, where minorities are not mistreated. We want an inclusive government in Syria," Fidan added in an interview broadcast live on NTV broadcaster.