pak-marine
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Turkey-Syria border: Kurds bitter as US troops withdraw
Media captionUS military vehicles were filmed moving away from the border
US troops have begun withdrawing from positions in northern Syria, paving the way for a Turkish operation against Kurdish fighters in the border area.
Kurdish-led forces have until now been a key US ally in Syria, where they helped defeat the Islamic State group, but Turkey regards them as terrorists.
The main Kurdish-led group called the surprise US move a "stab in the back".
But President Donald Trump defended the pullout, saying it was time "to get out of these ridiculous Endless Wars".
The withdrawal represents a significant shift in US foreign policy and goes against the advice of senior officials in the Pentagon and state department. It follows a White House statement issued late on Sunday, saying US troops were stepping aside for an imminent Turkish operation.
On Monday, US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of the president, called the announcement a "disaster in the making", saying he would introduce a Senate resolution opposing the decision and calling for it to be reversed.
What did the White House say?
"Turkey will soon be moving forward with its long-planned operation into northern Syria," the statement said.
"The United States Armed Forces will not support or be involved in the operation, and United States forces, having defeated the Isis territorial 'Caliphate', will no longer be in the immediate area."
The White House also said Turkey would take over all responsibility for IS fighters captured by Kurdish forces over the past two years.
Skip Twitter post by @realDonaldTrump
"); border: 0px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; visibility: visible; display: block; position: static; transform: rotate(0deg); max-width: 100%; width: 500px; min-width: 220px; background-position: 16px 13px;">
Donald J. Trump
✔@realDonaldTrump
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1181172465772482563
Replying to @realDonaldTrump
....almost 3 years, but it is time for us to get out of these ridiculous Endless Wars, many of them tribal, and bring our soldiers home. WE WILL FIGHT WHERE IT IS TO OUR BENEFIT, AND ONLY FIGHT TO WIN. Turkey, Europe, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Russia and the Kurds will now have to.....
Report
End of Twitter post by @realDonaldTrump
.
Media captionUS military vehicles were filmed moving away from the border
US troops have begun withdrawing from positions in northern Syria, paving the way for a Turkish operation against Kurdish fighters in the border area.
Kurdish-led forces have until now been a key US ally in Syria, where they helped defeat the Islamic State group, but Turkey regards them as terrorists.
The main Kurdish-led group called the surprise US move a "stab in the back".
But President Donald Trump defended the pullout, saying it was time "to get out of these ridiculous Endless Wars".
The withdrawal represents a significant shift in US foreign policy and goes against the advice of senior officials in the Pentagon and state department. It follows a White House statement issued late on Sunday, saying US troops were stepping aside for an imminent Turkish operation.
- Turkey v Syria's Kurds explained
- Turkey 'ready to set up Syria safe zone'
- Why the battle for northern Syria matters
On Monday, US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of the president, called the announcement a "disaster in the making", saying he would introduce a Senate resolution opposing the decision and calling for it to be reversed.
What did the White House say?
"Turkey will soon be moving forward with its long-planned operation into northern Syria," the statement said.
"The United States Armed Forces will not support or be involved in the operation, and United States forces, having defeated the Isis territorial 'Caliphate', will no longer be in the immediate area."
The White House also said Turkey would take over all responsibility for IS fighters captured by Kurdish forces over the past two years.
Skip Twitter post by @realDonaldTrump
"); border: 0px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; visibility: visible; display: block; position: static; transform: rotate(0deg); max-width: 100%; width: 500px; min-width: 220px; background-position: 16px 13px;">
Donald J. Trump
✔@realDonaldTrump
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1181172465772482563
Replying to @realDonaldTrump
....almost 3 years, but it is time for us to get out of these ridiculous Endless Wars, many of them tribal, and bring our soldiers home. WE WILL FIGHT WHERE IT IS TO OUR BENEFIT, AND ONLY FIGHT TO WIN. Turkey, Europe, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Russia and the Kurds will now have to.....
Report
End of Twitter post by @realDonaldTrump
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