MANBIJ, Syria — The top U.S. general in the coalition fighting the Islamic State group has pledged American troops would remain in the northern Syrian Kurdish town of Manbij despite Ankara’s demands for a U.S. pullout. Lt. Gen. Paul E. Funk’s remarks came during a visit Wednesday to U.S. forces in Manbij.

Funk says American forces are in Manbij to support their Syrian Kurdish allies and deescalate tensions after Turkey’s incursion in northern Syria.

[Read: 8 Turkish troops die in Syria operation; Russian pilot slain]

Turkey launched an offensive last month to drive Syrian Kurdish militiamen out of the enclave of Afrin and has threatened to extend its operation to Manbij. Ankara considers the Kurdish fighters “terrorists” and allied with Kurdish insurgents within Turkey.

This raises the prospect of a direct confrontation between NATO allies U.S. and Turkey, on opposing sides in the conflict.

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jamie Jarrord, left, thanks Manbij Military Council commander Muhammed Abu Adeel during a visit to a small outpost near the town of Manbij, northern Syria, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018. Lt. Gen. Paul E. Funk, the top U.S. general in the coalition fighting the Islamic State group pledged American troops would remain in the town despite Ankara's demands for a U.S. pullout. (Susannah George/AP)