Rhino: Agencies – The US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) vowed on Thursday to fight Turkey and groups it supports in the northern Syrian city of Kobane.

“We in the SDF emphasize the importance of de-escalation, stopping all military operations and resolving all outstanding issues through dialogue,” it said in a statement. But we will not hesitate to respond to any attack or targeting of our people and areas,” she said in a statement. “Our forces, with the participation of the people of Kobani, will fight with all their strength.”

The SDF is led by the People’s Protection Units (YPG), which Turkey considers an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), whose militants have been fighting the Turkish state for 40 years.