[Jpost] US President Donald J. Trump urged Turkey to "deescalate" and "limit its military actions" in northwest Syria. On Sunday, Turkey launched operations against the Kurdish People’s Protection Units in the mountainous area of Afrin in Syria. The US has worked closely with the Kurds in eastern Syria and is a close NATO ally of Ankara's.
On Wednesday Trump spoke with Erdogan and relayed concerns that escalating violence in Afrin could "risk undercutting our shared goals in Syria," according to a White House statement. The US urged Turkey to avoid civilian casualties and increases to displaced people and refugees.
However, Anadolu news agency in Turkey claims that officials speaking on condition of anonymity say the White House statement is incorrect. "President Donald Trump did not discuss any concerns of 'escalating violence in Afrin,' during the phone call," the agency reported.
"Trump urged Turkey to exercise caution and to avoid any actions that might risk conflict between Turkish and American forces. He reiterated that both nations must focus all parties on the shared goal of achieving the lasting defeat of ISIS."
Give. Kurds. Heavy. Weapons. |