Turkish President Criticizes Russia, Iran, U.S. For Presence In Syria

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticized Russia, Iran, and the United States for their presence in Syria -- saying that their unwillingness to depose Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is contributing to the pain of the Syrian people.

Erdogan made the remarks on May 29 at a rally marking the 563rd anniversary of the Ottoman conquest of the Byzantine capital, Constantinople – the city that is present-day Istanbul.

Erdogan said ‘What business have Russia and Iran” in Syria?

Referring to recently published photographs showing U.S. troops with the insignia of a Syrian Kurdish militia group, Erdogan said U.S. soldiers should not be "dressed up with the so-called patches of a terror organization."

The Pentagon is supporting the Syrian Kurdish fighters.

But Turkey considers the group to be a terrorist organization because of its links to Turkey’s outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters