Biden: YPG 'will never get US support again' if they spread across Euphrates

US Vice President Joe Biden has warned that the pro-Kurdish People's Protection Unit (YPG) would lose the support of the US if they "spread across" the Euphrates.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Wednesday, Biden warned that the air support and supplies that the US currently gives to the YPG would be cut off if there was any attempt to expand the YPG's influence west of the Euphrates.

"PYD and YPG should not spread across the Euphrates," said Biden. "If they do they will never get US support again."

The US has backed the YPG in its fight against the Islamic State group, but Turkey has been concerned that the YPG and its political wing the Democratic Union Party (PYD) are looking to form a contiguous Kurdish entity across the whole Turkish-Syrian border.

Biden reaffirmed his support for Turkey's elected government and denied that the US was either aware or in any way supported the coup attempt that took place on 15 July.

"The coup attempt was an attack on Turkey’s democratic institutions. I am here to show the unwavering support of the United States for Turkey. We are ready to provide any assistance that Turkey requests. We will always defend democracy. President Obama was one of the first leaders to show his backing for the Turkish government."

He also said the US was working with Turkey on the extradition of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkey blames for the coup attempt, stating that the US had no interest in "protecting anyone who has done harm to an ally".