Turkey renames US Embassy street after 'anti-terror' Syria operation to spite Washington

Turkish authorities have renamed a street where the US Embassy sits on after Turkey's military offensive in Syria that had led to tensions between the allies.

Ankara municipal workers on Monday took down the sign for Nevzat Tandogan Street and replaced it with one that reads "Olive Branch Street."

Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch last month to drive a Syrian Kurdish militia out of northwest Syria. The militia group is a major US ally in fighting Islamic State. Turkey regards them as "terrorists."

The US State Department has said that it's up to Turkish authorities to decide on street names.

In November, Turkey renamed the street where the United Arab Emirates has its embassy after a long-dead Ottoman military commander following a disputed tweet.

This comes after Turkish officials reportedly proposed to the US that the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) withdraw from Syria's Manbij and US and Turkish troops be stationed there together.

The US is reportedly considering the proposal, which was made to US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson during his multi-country Middle East tour, Turkish officials told Reuters.

Last month, Ankara launched Operation Olive Branch in Afrin to drive out the YPG from the province, which borders Turkey.

Turkish officials have warned they will extend their incursion in Syria to nearby Manbij, another area where Kurdish forces are based.

Up to 2,000 US troops are already stationed in Manbij, and a Turkish incursion into the area could risk conflict between the two NATO members.

In January, US President Donald Trump phoned Erdogan and "urged Turkey to de-escalate".