WASHINGTON – U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted late on Sunday that Turkey’s president Recep Erdogan told him he would work to take out remaining pockets of so-called Islamic State, appearing to give Ankara his endorsement, saying that the country “will eradicate whatever is left of IS”.
This poses major concerns for the ethnic Kurds who occupy northern Syria, a group the Turkish president considers a major threat due to what he says are their connections to the internationally recognized status of the Kurdish PKK in southeast Turkey.
The United States-led global coalition, who recognizes the Kurds in Syria as distinct from the terrorist group in Turkey, worked closely with the Kurds to take on IS through the Syrian Democratic Forces.
“President @RT_Erdogan of Turkey has very strongly informed that he will eradicate whatever is left of ISIS in Syria”, President Trump tweeted, adding that “he is a man who can do it plus, Turkey is right ‘next door.’ Our troops are coming home!”
President @RT_Erdogan of Turkey has very strongly informed me that he will eradicate whatever is left of ISIS in Syria….and he is a man who can do it plus, Turkey is right “next door.” Our troops are coming home!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2018
Analysis, military observers and world affairs circles, along with several Republicans and Democrats, have protested the sudden withdrawal because it leaves the Kurdish military without defence from Turkish aggression.
Turkey is also right 'next door' from Kurdistan, a priceless ally who has aided us more in the fight against both Assad and ISIL than some wanna be Turkish thug ever could.
We were their last line of defense from total eradication. https://t.co/0kkhkrrekb
— ???????????????????? ???????????????????? ???????? (@IntelCrab) December 24, 2018
(c)Breaking911 – Eli Ridder
