Ankara: The US has reiterated a pledge to Turkey to stop arming a Syrian Kurdish militia that Ankara is fighting, the Turkish presidency said on Saturday, after the allies’ relations were strained by Turkey’s offensive in Syria.

The Turkish presidency said US National Security Adviser HR McMaster “confirmed” to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman Ibrahim Kalin in a phone call late on Friday that Washington would “not give weapons to the YPG” militia.

Turkey launched its operation “Olive Branch” on Jan.20 against the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) militia, supporting Syrian opposition fighters with ground troops and air strikes.

Relations between Nato allies Ankara and Washington have been further strained by the offensive, with Washington urging restraint and fearing an impact on the fight against the Daesh extremist group.