WASHINGTON - The United States ramped up efforts on Friday to persuade Turkey to halt an escalating offensive in northern Syria against U.S.-backed Kurdish forces, saying Ankara was causing “great harm” to ties and could face potentially devastating sanctions.
“Nobody green-lighted this operation by Turkey, just the opposite. We pushed back very hard at all levels for the Turks not to commence this operation,” Defense Secretary Mark Esper told a news briefing, accusing Ankara of damaging ties. Since it began on Tuesday, the Turkish incursion has opened a new front in the eight-year Syrian civil war and drawn international criticism. A war monitor gave a death toll of more than 100 so far and the United Nations said 100,000 people had fled their homes.
A senior U.S. State Department official said late on Thursday that the department has been asked by Trump to see “if there are areas of commonality between the two sides, if there’s a way that we could find our way to a ceasefire.”Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin appeared at the White House to announce that Trump had authorized U.S. officials to draft “very powerful” new sanctions targeting Turkey, but the conditions under which they would be applied were unclear.
Mnuchin said Trump was concerned about potential targeting of civilians by Turkish forces, and wants to make clear that Turkey cannot “allow even a single ISIS fighter to escape.” Milley told reporters he had just spoken with the chief of the Turkish General Staff, General Yasar Guler, who “understands clearly” that the prisoners would be Ankara’s responsibility in areas where it carries out the offensive.
So is the EU.
Why? Look at these photos. These babies killed by PKK/YPG/PYD. If something like this happens in their own country, what do they do? Turkey has the right to say stop to this baby killers.
It's almost like there was more than 1 reason our troops were there. Going thing CheetoMan moved them out of the way.
The cat’s outta the bag
Turkey will experience a heavy duty Kurd quagmire war. It will be the end of Erdogan govt. Erdogan wants the Kurd oilfields. He will never get a drop of oil out. The Kurds will prevent this. The Kurds will give Turkey endless quagmire like Napoleon campaign in Russia.
I hardly think a stern lecture is gonna cut it....
Have the United States been attacked by terrorists in a border country like Mexico? Or a bomb attack in their city?.. Who does Article 51 of the United Nations and Article 5 of NATO apply to?!! Why is the United States allied with terrorist organizations?But not guilty!! Think..
And now we'll see just how completely bogus Trump's threat to destroy Turkey's economy was the moment he hastily dreamed it up.
Its like inviting someone to a party and then telling them they can’t come in when they get there. During his rally, Trump said he’d negotiate a deal. Wonder if that’s his attempt at the Nobel Peace Prize he keeps saying he should get.
Dopes trying to stuff a champagne cork back into a bottle.
Wer sollte die Amerikaner jetzt noch ernst nehmen?
Président Trump, unorthodox decision, leaving Syria made clear, the destructive impact of the West in Syria. Never admitted by the US&EU. As if, the outcome of the refugee crises&terrorism is not enough. It’s time, for the West to accept it’s exercise of INJUSTICE&mistakes.
The same US officials that agreed to let Turkey invade Syria to begin with?
Intensify? What happened to threats by Trump that he will destroy Turkeys economy if they do that? Trump won’t, because it will affect Trump hotels in Istanbul
It’s just stunning these guys think that they can get away with this lie. They pulled our troops out FOR THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE of allowing Turkey to invade northern Syria. Then just LAST NIGHT they blocked a UN Security Council effort to condemn Turkey’s invasion.
Not attack, peace operation
Imagine if they just didn't pull out in the first place and leave our allies to die? Imagine if we had competent leadership and we weren't at the mercy of an ailing conman who chooses his business interests over what's good for the country. Imagine.
Their hypocrisy is astounding, these same cowards incited the attack and invasion of Iraq that created this hell on earth for the people of that region.
Trump administration now pretends it never implicitly approved of Turkey's invasion. Msy be true in part. realDonaldTrump, in exchange for guarantees from Edrogan regarding Trump Tower Istanbul, gave Turkey the greenlight without consulting any of his own people.
Why? The Kurds were sold out by Trump & GOP. No Kurd warning of pullout but Turkey was ready & waiting. The US Allie was sold out for a Trump property in Istanbul! So why is the US state dept running these bullshit theatrics?
TrumpGOPGenocide
Never
The terrorist organization PKK/PYD-YPG has repeatedly attacked journalists covering Operation Peace Spring in an attempt to cover up the truth. The press corps, like the people of northeastern Syria, will breathe a sigh of relief as Turkey removes terrorists from its borders.
Turkish artillery wishes you a good flight🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🔥🔥🔥
RealJamesWoods feel good about Trump & Turkey?
*invasion
You created this realDonaldTrump.
We won't stop! 🇹🇷💪
Too bad EVERYONE saw this coming but Trump
Last MORE five years Turkey ask USA but USA choose to arm terriost BCS USA design to chaos but USA now Play good guy.mixing terriost with Kurdish name's.using MORE ethnic war but All Ottoman knows what's dirty games
Oh please. The entire regions bloodlust has been ignited,and its burning fiercely! ......' 'cry Havoc', and let slip the dogs of war'.
🎼That's no ones buisness but the Turks...🎶🎶 😂😂😂
Kurds in northern Syria can’t provide stability and peace. Terror attacks and refugies go on. The temporary zone beyond the borders of Europe should be established under control of a powerful state, that’s Turkey
After killing 12 million Muslims since 1990..US and western allies are hypocrites
This is complete bullshit! The current admin set up the slaughter! No warning for the Allies but yet Turkey was ready...seems the Kurds were sold out for an Istanbul Trump Tower. Maybe the Kurds should focus on thatvTurkish Trump property!
Deja vu feeling about US reaction on Turkey’s response to US withdrawal. Didn’t first Gulf War start after Saddam misinterpreted US ambassador? Fuzzy diplomatics with double-speak tends to have serious consequences.svpol
Its only a game between turkey and us. Unfortunately us is becoming only talk no actions.the innocent people are killed and kicked out of their homes by the turks.
senatemajldr GOP GOPLeader HouseGOP Constantly cleaning up after realDonaldTrump
The US is helping Saudi Arabia to kill thousands of unarmed civilians in Yemen but is against Turkey s Syria war
Too little too late?
Yeah, throughout history, if there is one thing that we have learned, the people of Asia Minor have always been dicks!
管的真宽
It's like seeing Green lights switch on then warned to stop in the middle
What about that?
Give them the go ahead then try to stop them...absolute madness. Absolute waste of life. Look down at your hands - they’ll never be clean.
Too late idiots
Body count caused by realDonaldTrump
US officials in action...
Not withdrawing and betraying our allies would have been a good start
They let it happen themselves
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