The wording was unusual even for US President Donald Trump: "If Turkey does anything that I consider taboo in my great and incomparable wisdom, I will completely destroy and annihilate the Turkish economy," Trump tweeted - without making it clear what he would consider a violation.
As I have read, I am very happy to be back, if I do not like it, I want to learn more about it. , They must, with Europe and others, watch over ...
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2019He obviously did not make a big impression on Turkey. "Our message to the international community is clear - Turkey is not a country that can be moved by threats," said Vice President Fuat Oktay a few hours later in Ankara.
Oktay reiterated that Turkey's plan is to crack down on Kurdish militias in northern Syria. Turkey will never allow "a terror corridor, a terrorist state" to emerge right at its border, whatever the cost. It is time to create a "safety zone east of the Euphrates River".
The White House said on Sunday that US forces would not participate in a planned offensive by Turkey in northern Syria and would no longer be "in the immediate area" in the future. At dawn on Monday, US troops began withdrawing there, as spokesman for the Kurdish militia-dominated Syrian Democratic forces confirmed.
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The move raised concerns both in the US and internationally. The Kurdish militias who fought there as US allies against the terrorist militia "Islamic State" feel betrayed. Trump was also accused of his own ranks to abandon the Kurdish militias.
In northern Syria, the Kurdish YPG militia control areas in the border area with Turkey. Turkey regards them as terrorists. Numerous governments, including the federal government, and international organizations have urgently warned Turkey about a military offensive in northern Syria. Representatives of the Kurds said that this could create a new "war zone".
Turkish news agency Anadolu quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy as saying that Turkey was determined to drive terrorists east of the Euphrates River to secure its own survival and establish a safe zone. "This will eliminate a serious threat to the territorial integrity and unity of Syria."