US President Donald Trump says the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and other countries should be responsible for protecting the US-allied Kurds in northern Syria against a Turkish incursion, not the US which is “7,000 miles away” from Syria.
“Let Syria and Assad protect the Kurds and fight Turkey for their own land. I said to my Generals, why should we be fighting for Syria and Assad to protect the land of our enemy?” Trump tweeted on Monday.
“Anyone who wants to assist Syria in protecting the Kurds is good with me, whether it is Russia, China, or Napoleon Bonaparte. I hope they all do great, we are 7,000 miles away!” he went on to say.
Donald J. Trump
✔@realDonaldTrump
After defeating 100% of the ISIS Caliphate, I largely moved our troops out of Syria. Let Syria and Assad protect the Kurds and fight Turkey for their own land. I said to my Generals, why should we be fighting for Syria….
Trump further raised the question why his country should protect part of Syria when President Assad is “our enemy.”
Donald J. Trump
✔@realDonaldTrump
Some people want the United States to protect the 7,000 mile away Border of Syria, presided over by Bashar al-Assad, our enemy. At the same time, Syria and whoever they chose to help, wants naturally to protect the Kurds….
Donald J. Trump
✔@realDonaldTrump
….I would much rather focus on our Southern Border which abuts and is part of the United States of America. And by the way, numbers are way down and the WALL is being built!
Trump’s comments come as has been battered with criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike since the White House announced eight days ago that US forces would leave northern Syria, in a move that many call a “betrayal” to the US-allied Kurds in that region.
Following Trump’s decision to withdraw the US forces from northern Syria, Turkish forces last week moved into the Syrian territory, attacking the Kurdish forces that fought alongside the US against Daesh.
As a result, the Kurds struck a deal to join the Syrian army – President Assad’s forces – in attempting to push back the Turks.
Syrian state media says government troops have entered the northern Kurdish-held city of Manbij on the sixth day of Turkey’s aggression.
In another tweet on Monday, Trump also released a statement to announce new sanctions against “current and former officials of the Government of Turkey and any persons contributing to Turkey’s destabilizing actions in northeast Syria.”
He said he will be soon issuing an “Executive Order” which authorizes the imposition of these sanctions.
He also vowed to increase steel tariffs back up to 50 percent, and immediately stop negotiations with respect to a $100 billion trade deal with Turkey.
Donald J. Trump
✔@realDonaldTrump
Statement from President Donald J. Trump Regarding Turkey’s Actions in Northeast Syria
The US treasury secretary later announced that it has slapped sanctions on Turkey’s defense, interior and energy ministers upon Trump’s request.
‘Turkish incursion displaces 160,000 civilians’
The UN secretary general said on Monday in a statement that the Turkish military offensive in Syria has displaced at least 160,000 civilians.
Antonio Guterres “is gravely concerned over the military developments in northeast Syria,” the statement said.
It said Guterres was urging “all parties to resolve their concerns through peaceful means,” adding that “civilians not taking part in hostilities must be protected at all times.”
He also expressed “serious concern” that the Turkish onslaught could lead to the “unintended release of individuals” associated with Daesh.
Some of the Kurdish forces guarding Daesh prisoners or their families have been pulled away to fight the Turks, raising fears that many Daesh terrorists might be able to escape.
A group of Daesh prisoners escape from a prison in northern Syria following Turkish mortar attacks nearby.
Guterres also demanded “sustained, unimpeded and safe humanitarian access to civilians in need” to allow the United Nations and its humanitarian partners to carry out aid work.
The UNICEF said that nearly 70,000 children have been displaced since hostilities in northeast Syria escalated nearly a week ago.
French, Turkish presidents hold talks
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan explained to his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron the aims of Turkey’s operation in northeastern Syria in a phone call, the Turkish presidency said on Monday.
Erdogan said the operation would contribute to regional and global peace and stability, the presidency said.
The talks came after the European Union countries agreed on Monday to limit arms exports to Turkey over its offensive, prompting condemnation from Ankara, even as they stopped short of a bloc-wide embargo against the NATO ally.
Press TV is a 24-hour English language news and documentary network, affiliated with Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).
IRIB is state-owned but independent of the Iranian government in its management and is the only legal TV and radio broadcaster inside Iran. IRIB’s head is appointed directly by the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and is considered to be close to the country’s conservative political faction. Press TV is headquartered in Tehran with offices and bureaus around the world; including London, Beirut, Damascus, Kabul, and the Gaza Strip.
*All posts on behalf of PressTV are made by Jim W. Dean
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Narrative is risible, farcical & shillarious. Turkey is NATO & which is a CFR NAZI creation of Rothschild/Rockefeller/Brzezinski/Kissinger/Gehlen Et Ali etc. NATO countries buy MIBC Hardwear for imaginary ‘boogieman’ Terrorist they create via Op Gladio. Stick a Fork in it, it’s done.
This is nothing but a continuation of the rape and plunder of Syria by former ancestors of these thugs of the former Ottoman Empire. The gutless cowards in the U.S. never took a stand on that either. Trump is so stupid he likely does not even know the history nor do the ignorant generals in our military. Nothing ever changes in the world over there. Let’s get some more used oil tankers over there quickly so they can loot more stolen oil too. The Turks are some evil P…..ks.
The Monsters Turks also hated Armenians and many other groups over there while never being prosecuted for their crimes against humanity by the cowards of the world. All we ever hear about are abuses of Jews as if that was when abuse to humans began, but never a peep about the earlier abuses by Thugs in the former Ottoman Empire.
More babies in incubators will die . You have to think it’s all pretty planned and approved. (Sanctions are for domestic morons to still believe MAGA MIGA MTGA) The pictures of us army and syrian army vehicles driving in opposite directions on a highway. We just didn’t get the pics with winks nods
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