Turkey to Begin Syria Offensive ‘Shortly’, US Sends Mixed Signals
In a strongly-worded statement, Syria’s Kurds have accused the US of turning its back on its allies against ISIS.
Turkey has said it would "shortly" begin an offensive into northern Syria after the US decided to pull its troops from positions in northeastern Syria , AFP reported.
Istanbul has sent more armoured vehicles to the border with Syria with a large convoy of dozens of vehicles seen in the Turkish town of Akcakale in Sanliurfa province, according to the news agency.
This comes after President Donald Trump insisted the United States had not abandoned its Kurdish allies even as it pulled forces out of the area starting Monday, 7 October. After appearing to give a green light to the Turkish invasion, he later threatened to "obliterate" Turkey's economy if it went too far.
In a strongly-worded statement, Syria's Kurds have accused the US of turning its back on its allies and risking gains made in the fight against the Islamic State group.
Erdogan Voices Concern for Kurdish Fighters as US Withdraws Troops
Erdogan spoke hours after the US’s decision to clear the way for an expected Turkish assault – raising concerns about the fate of Kurdish fighters who fought alongside American forces in the yearslong battle to defeat the Islamic State group, reported AP.
Erdogan did not elaborate on the planned Turkish incursion but said Turkey was determined to halt what it perceives as threats from the Syrian Kurdish fighters.
There are about 1,000 US troops in northern Syria, and a senior US official said they will pull back from the area – and potentially depart the country entirely, should widespread fighting break out between Turkish and Kurdish forces, according to AP.
The White House statement on Sunday also said Turkey will take custody of foreign fighters captured in the US-led campaign against Islamic State who have been held by the Kurdish forces.
Mustafa Bali, the SDF spokesman, tweeted that his group is not expecting the US to protect northeastern Syria.
In an agreement between Ankara and Washington, joint US and Turkish aerial and ground patrols had started in a security zone that covers over 125 kilometers (78 miles) along the Turkey-Syria border between the towns of Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ayn. The SDF had removed fortification from the areas, considered a threat by Turkey, and withdrawn with heavy weapons.
But Turkey and the US have disagreed over the depth of the zone, with Ankara seeking to also have its troops monitor a stretch of territory between 30 and 40 kilometers deep (19 to 25 miles). Erdogan has continued to threaten an attack.
The Kurdish-led fighters have been the main US-backed force in Syria in the fight against IS and in March, the group captured the last sliver of land held by the extremists, marking the end of the so-called caliphate that was declared by Islamic State's leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2014.
The Kurds have custody of thousands of captured Islamic State militants. They include about 2,500 highly dangerous foreign fighters from Europe and elsewhere – their native countries have been reluctant to take them back – and about 10,000 captured fighters from Syria and Iraq.
Kurdish Officials Express Concerns of Possible Breakout by IS Prisoners
Asked about the White House comments, Erdogan said that both Turkey and the US were working separately to see "what steps can be taken" so that foreign fighters in prison can be repatriated.
"This is being worked on," he said.
Erdogan has threatened for months to launch the military operation across the border. He views the Syria Kurdish forces as terrorists and a threat to his country as Ankara has struggled with a Kurdish insurgency within Turkey.
The Syrian Democratic Forces, as the Kurdish-led force is known, said the American pullout began first from areas along the Syria-Turkey border.
The Syrian Kurdish Hawar news agency and the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also say American troops were evacuating positions near the towns of Ras al-Ayn and Tal Abyad on Monday.
"The American forces did not abide by their commitments and withdrew their forces along the border with Turkey," the SDF said in its statement.
"We will not hesitate for a moment in defending our people" against Turkish troops, the Syrian Kurdish force said, adding that it has lost 11,000 fighters in the war against IS in Syria.
It said IS sleeper cells are already plotting to break free some 12,000 militants detained by Syrian Kurdish fighters in northeastern Syria.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu tweeted that Ankara is determined to ensure the survival and security of Turkey "by clearing the region from terrorists. We will contribute to peace, peace and stability in Syria."
(With inputs from the Associated Press and AP)
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