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Offensive in northern Syria: Trump wants to mediate "deal" between Turkey and Kurds

2019-10-11T02:20:21.563Z


Ankara is heavily criticized for the military offensive in northern Syria. Now Donald Trump explains that the US could mediate between Turkey and the Kurds. At the same time he threatens sanctions again.



Donald Trump has brought the US into play as a possible mediator in the military conflict between Turkey and the Kurdish militias in northern Syria. "I hope we can mediate," said Trump, looking at the two conflicting parties. At the same time he again threatened Turkey with sanctions or harsh punitive measures against the Turkish economy.

Trump had already voiced this threat in the event that Turkey would behave "inhumane" towards the Kurds - without, however, becoming more specific. The US State Department asked what exactly the government considered Turkey's possible "inhumane" behavior, including "ethnic cleansing" in Kurdish areas. So far there is no evidence. But watch the situation intensively.

Trump had written on Twitter that the US had three options in the conflict: sending thousands of soldiers into the area, severe economic sanctions against Turkey, or mediating a "deal" between the two sides. Trump emphasized in Washington that sending troops was what he least wanted.

.... We have one of three choices: Send in thousands of troops and win Militarily, hit Turkey very hard Financially and with Sanctions, or mediate a deal between Turkey and the Kurds!

- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 10, 2019

According to the foreign ministry, Turkey's military offensive said: "We will do our best to stop this matter." The president had given the order to look for possible ways to a truce between the two sides.

USA rejects criticism of the withdrawal of troops

The Turkish military launched a military offensive against Kurdish militias in northern Syria on Wednesday. The purpose of the operation is the Kurdish militia YPG, which controls a large area on the Syrian side of the border. Turkey sees in it an offshoot of the banned Kurdish workers' party PKK in Turkey and thus a terrorist organization.

Turkey wants to establish a so-called security zone along the border and to settle there Syrian refugees who currently live in Turkey.

Turkey's invasion of northern Syria was followed by Trump's surprise announcement that it was withdrawing American troops from the border region, which caused much outrage. Critics rated this as the green light of the Americans for Ankara to launch an offensive.

A senior government official from the State Department dismissed this and reiterated that the US saw Turkey's actions as a "big mistake" and had by no means given the green light to do so, but on the contrary made clear its great resistance.

more on the subject

Trump's Syria foray guarantee endless strife

Meanwhile, Turkey has declared responsibility for IS prisoners in northeastern Syria once it has established the so-called security zone there. If IS camps or jails were in the zone, then Turkey would be responsible, said Foreign Minister Mevlüt Cavusoglu on Thursday.

Turkey will ask the home countries of foreign IS nationals to take them back. If the countries of origin refuse, as many do, then it is the task of Turkey to ensure that the IS fighters are not free.

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2019-10-11

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