The Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army does not want interference from U.S. special forces, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday, blaming the “behaviour” of U.S. officials for exacerbating tension with the rebels.

Erdogan made the comments at a news conference in Istanbul before departing for New York, where he is due to address the United Nations General Assembly.

He was referring to a small number of U.S. forces who entered the Syrian town of al-Rai last week as part of operations to coordinate air strikes against Islamic State but were then forced to withdraw toward the Turkish border after rebels protested against their presence.

Source: thepeninsulaqatar.com