As President Erdogan voice gets tougher on US presence in Afrin region and assistance to PKK/YPG terrorist groups, Washington's message to Ankara started to change. Director of US National Intelligence, Dan Coats, implies Ankara's ambition on stopping Kurdish expansion risks the fight against ISIS as well as risking the American soldiers lives at site.
The lastest statement can be regarded that American military assistance to PKK/YPG terrorist groups will continue and Ankara's stance will be tested contiuously.
For both sides, there are imminent risks. American government starts acknowledging the PKK/YPG terrorists (so called SDF by US) going into Afrin for defending the region (likely to reduce the pace of Turkish troops advance. Thus US government is buying time to find a amicable solution to end this conflict). Indirectly, Washington acknowledges the military support to PKK/PYG terrorist groups will be used against Turkish military forces. Ankara message to Washington is also clear "Cut your ties with PKK/YPG terrorists and restore the relations". Erdogan responded to a US General statement (if they hit us,we will hit them), "Those who talks today has not met with Ottoman slap". Unless Washington does so, Ankara has no option to either capture Afrin and at least seize Menbij (if not capture). Washington stance also will be tested in that regard, too. It is also not clear how US will responde if Menbij might be seized or captured.
Ankara cannot basically back down easily. There will be domestic pressure on the government due to national security concerns. Washington cannot step back before Ankara because US wants to set a new Iran and Russia startegy and in that regard group with weapons are at most important to its interest.
Both sides simply cannot give up their strategy unless new development and new urgencies arise. Thus, construe both sides are still on collision route. And time is not in favor of both sides.
