Trump says he will wipe out Turkey’s economy if it wipes out the Syrian Kurds
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he would devastate Turkey’s economy if Ankara’s incursion in Syria wipes out the Kurdish population there.
Turkey
Senators Launch Bipartisan Push to Sanction Turkey Over Syria Offensive
Breaking with President Trump over the issue, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Wednesday joined Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) in announcing a bipartisan push for sanctions against the leaders and military of Turkey – a NATO ally – until it halts a unilateral military operation in northeastern Syria and withdraws its forces.
Syrian Christians to US: ‘Don’t Abandon Us Now’
Not long after the defeat of the Islamic State in the area, Syrian Christians warn that US military withdrawal from the Kurdish-controlled region, announced yesterday by President Donald Trump, will expose them to danger.
EU demands Turkey halt Syria operation as NATO chief urges ‘restraint’
EU chief Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday demanded Turkey halt its military operation against Kurdish fighters in northern Syria, telling Ankara a political solution was the only way to end the Syrian conflict.
Possible ‘Humanitarian Catastrophe’: Kurdish Civilians Rush to Protect Syrian Border as Turkish Invasion Begins
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that his invasion into northeast Syria has begun. A spokesman for the Kurdish fighters said Turkish warplanes have started attacking the region.
Turkish army pushes into Syria, people flee as air strikes, artillery hit border town
Turkey launched a military operation against Kurdish fighters in northeast Syria on Wednesday just days after U.S. troops pulled back from the area, with air strikes and artillery hitting YPG militia positions around the border town of Ras al Ain.
Iran opposes military action in Syria, Zarif tells Turkey
Iran’s top diplomat Mohammad Javad Zarif told his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in a phone call that Tehran is opposed to military action in Syria, the foreign ministry said.
Turkey military advances as U.S. withdraws from Syria
World leaders were “preparing for the worst” Monday as Turkey moved quickly toward a sweeping military offensive against U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters in northern Syria after President Trump’s surprise announcement that he would pull American forces out of a crucial buffer zone along the border between the two nations.
‘Islamic State’ resurgence a ‘very real possibility’ after US exits Syria
For months, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to send troops into neighboring Syria. Then, on Saturday, he announced he would deliver on his promise and send Turkish air and ground forces into the country. Erdogan plans to create a “safe zone” along the Turkish-Syrian border. The purpose of this is to push back the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which are led by the predominantly Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG). Ankara considers the Kurdish militia a threat to its national security.
Turkey’s Syria incursion may allow ISIS to attempt mass prison break amid US withdrawal, Kurdish fighters warn
ISIS fighters and other terrorists comprising the more than 10,000 Islamic militants jailed in northeast Syria could launch a mass prison break as U.S. troops withdraw from the region in response to Turkey’s impending incursion, Syrian Kurdish fighters warned Monday.
Turkey announces incursion of northeast Syria, US-backed Kurds have vowed ‘all-out’ war
The White House announced late Sunday that Turkey will soon move forward with its planned military operation in northeast Syria in an area where U.S. troops have been deployed and operating with Kurdish-led forces.
US steps aside for Turkey to invade northern Syria, crush Kurds
The White House said Sunday that US forces in northeast Syria will move aside and clear the way for an expected Turkish assault, essentially abandoning Kurdish fighters who fought alongside American forces in the years-long battle to defeat Islamic State militants.
Syrian Christians Brace for Impending Turkish Invasion as ‘Safe Zone’ Deadline Expires
A large-scale Turkish invasion of northern Syria appears to be imminent after the deadline to jointly establish a ‘safe zone’ in the region with the United States by the end of September passed without a resolution between the two countries.
Syria demands withdrawal of U.S., Turkish forces, warns of countermeasures
Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem on Saturday demanded an immediate withdrawal of all U.S. and Turkish troops from his country and warned that Syrian government forces had the right to take countermeasures if they refused.
Erdogan says Turkey will continue oil, natural gas trade with Iran
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday it was impossible for Turkey to stop buying oil and natural gas from Iran, despite the threat of U.S. sanctions, and added that trade between the two countries would continue, according to broadcaster NTV.
Turkey, Russia, Iran agree steps to ease tensions in Syria’s Idlib despite lingering differences
The leaders of Turkey, Russia, and Iran meeting in Ankara on Monday agreed to try to ease tensions in northwest Syria’s Idlib region, but disagreements between the countries appeared to linger, especially over the threat from Islamic State.
Turkey Says Delivery of Second S-400 Battery Complete
Turkey’s defense ministry said on Sunday that the delivery of a second battery of Russian S-400 missile defense systems has been completed as of Sunday, and added that the systems would become active in April 2020.
Netanyahu pre-election proposal hints at one-state Trump peace plan
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s promise to annex the Jordan Valley if he is re-elected next week has angered proponents of the two-state solution.
US Christian evangelical delegation meets Saudi crown prince
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Tuesday with a delegation of American evangelical Christians in the Red Sea city of Jiddah as the kingdom works to forge closer ties with an influential electoral base in the U.S. that could be crucial to the 2020 elections.
Russia Is Trying to Sell Turkey Its Own Stealthy New Fighter After U.S. Revoked Access to F-35
President Vladimir Putin showed off Russia’s latest stealth warplane to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who’s been barred from buying a new U.S. fighter jet in a dispute with Donald Trump over the purchase of a Russian missile system.