WASHINGTON 

The State Department on Monday denied that Turkey’s attacks on outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) are linked to a mutual understanding with Washington after U.S.-led anti-Daesh forces were allowed to use Turkish bases to conduct airstrikes.

“I understand the coincidence of all of this, but it is just that,” spokesman John Kirby told reporters, adding that the strikes were “in retaliation for recent attacks by the PKK that Turkey conducted these most recent strikes.

“Turkey has continued to come under attack by PKK terrorists, and we recognize their right to defend themselves against those attacks,” he added.

Following last week’s suicide bombing in the town of Suruc that killed 32 activists, tensions have risen between the Turkish state and the PKK, with the latter stepping up attacks on police and troops while Turkish warplanes target the group’s camps and police round up suspected supporters.

On Friday night and in the early hours of Saturday, Turkish jets bombed PKK camps in northern Iraq for the first time in two-and-a-half years. The strikes were carried out in retaliation for a series of attacks blamed on the outlawed group.

Turkish jets again on Sunday hit PKK targets outside Turkey.

The strikes came just days after Ankara agreed to allow the U.S.-led anti-Daesh coalition to use bases inside Turkey, including the strategic U.S. Incirlik Air Base, to carry out airstrikes against Daesh.

Kirby said that access to the sites will allow coalition air support for northern Syria’s People’s Protection units (YPG) “to be more timely, and perhaps even more effective.”

He added that he was not sure if the airstrikes against the PKK have concluded, referring questions to the Turkish government.

“What we're trying to focus on here is a coalition to go after ISIL,” he said. “I recognize that in some cases, the PKK have fought against ISIL, but they are a foreign terrorist organization; we've designated them that as a FTO. And our fight against ISIL is not in cooperation with, coordination with or communication with the PKK.”

Regarding requests for a no-fly zone in northern Syria, Kirby said ongoing coalition efforts are “almost having the same effect as if there was one, because only coalition aircraft are occupying that airspace.” 

“There is no opposition in the air, when coalition aircraft are flying in that part of Syria. The Assad regime is not challenging us; ISIL doesn't have airplanes,” he said in reference to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Kirby further refrained from saying efforts in northern Syria against Daesh are an attempt to develop an “ISIL-free zone”, adding “we're going after ISIL wherever they tend to go.”