Assad, Not US, Must Protect Kurds against Turkey: Trump

“Let Syria and Assad protect the Kurds and fight Turkey for their own land. I said to my Generals, why should we be fighting for Syria and Assad to protect the land of our enemy?” Trump tweeted on Monday.

“Anyone who wants to assist Syria in protecting the Kurds is good with me, whether it is Russia, China, or Napoleon Bonaparte. I hope they all do great, we are 7,000 miles away!” he went on to say.

Trump’s comments come as has been battered with criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike since the White House announced eight days ago that US forces would leave northern Syria, in a move that many call a “betrayal” to the US-allied Kurds in that region.

Following Trump’s decision to withdraw the US forces from northern Syria, Turkish forces last week moved into the Syrian territory, attacking the Kurdish forces that fought alongside the US against Daesh.

As a result, the Kurds struck a deal to join the Syrian army – President Assad’s forces – in attempting to push back the Turks.

In another tweet on Monday, Trump also released a statement to announce new sanctions against “current and former officials of the Government of Turkey and any persons contributing to Turkey’s destabilizing actions in northeast Syria.”

He said he will be soon issuing an “Executive Order” which authorizes the imposition of these sanctions.

He also vowed to increase steel tariffs back up to 50 percent, and immediately stop negotiations with respect to a $100 billion trade deal with Turkey.

The US treasury secretary later announced that it has slapped sanctions on Turkey’s defense, interior and energy ministers upon Trump’s request.

‘Turkish incursion displaces 160,000 civilians’

The UN secretary general said on Monday in a statement that the Turkish military offensive in Syria has displaced at least 160,000 civilians.

Antonio Guterres “is gravely concerned over the military developments in northeast Syria,” the statement said.

It said Guterres was urging “all parties to resolve their concerns through peaceful means,” adding that “civilians not taking part in hostilities must be protected at all times.”

He also expressed “serious concern” that the Turkish onslaught could lead to the “unintended release of individuals” associated with Daesh.

Some of the Kurdish forces guarding Daesh prisoners or their families have been pulled away to fight the Turks, raising fears that many Daesh terrorists might be able to escape.

Guterres also demanded “sustained, unimpeded and safe humanitarian access to civilians in need” to allow the United Nations and its humanitarian partners to carry out aid work.

The UNICEF said that nearly 70,000 children have been displaced since hostilities in northeast Syria escalated nearly a week ago.

French, Turkish presidents hold talks

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan explained to his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron the aims of Turkey’s operation in northeastern Syria in a phone call, the Turkish presidency said on Monday.

Erdogan said the operation would contribute to regional and global peace and stability, the presidency said.

The talks came after the European Union countries agreed on Monday to limit arms exports to Turkey over its offensive, prompting condemnation from Ankara, even as they stopped short of a bloc-wide embargo against the NATO ally.