US allocates $156M to fund benefiting PKK/YPG in 2024 defense budget

WASHINGTON

The 2024 US defense budget, approved by Congress, allocates $398 million for countering the Daesh/ISIS terror group in Iraq and Syria, with $156 million for the PKK/YPG in Syria.

The new spending package marks a $9 million decrease for Syria compared to the previous year, while funding for operations in Iraq fell to $242 million from $322 million.

The funds allocated for Syria are directed to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is led by the PKK/YPG, the Pentagon's main partner in the country for counter-Daesh efforts, according to the bill.

Earlier Thursday, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved the $886 billion defense spending bill, sending it to President Joe Biden's desk to be signed into law.

In its almost 40-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK -- listed as a terror organization by Türkiye, the US and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.

The YPG is the Syrian affiliate of the PKK terror group. US support for the YPG has long strained relations between Ankara and Washington.

*Hakan Copur contributed to the story