US President Trump doubles down on decision to withdraw US troops from northern Syria ahead of an expected Turkish campaign, insisting he was elected on 'getting out of these ridiculous endless wars'
A Turkish military helicopter flies over as Turkish and US troops return from a joint US-Turkey patrol in northern Syria, as it is pictured from near the Turkish town of Akcakale, Turkey. September 8, 2019.
The US president admitted Washington funded and armed the militants, who he said, were "fighting Turkey for decades." Turkey and the US are NATO allies and arming the group has been a serious bone of contention between Ankara and Washington. "The Kurds [SDF/YPG] fought with us, but were paid massive amounts of money and equipment to do so," he added.
Trump has repeatedly demanded that European countries, particularly France and Germany, take back their citizens who joined Daesh.Earlier, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the US has begun withdrawal from northern Syria. On Sunday, Washington ruled out any assistance or involvement in Turkey's planned operation east of the Euphrates River.
The Free Syrian Army , which took part in operations Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch along with the Turkish Armed Forces, earlier announced it completed preparations for a potential military operation in east of Euphrates, according to an Anadolu Agency report. Civilians must be protected in any Turkish military operation in northeast Syria, where the UN hopes that displacement and atrocities can be prevented, a senior UN aid official said on Monday.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trump slams 'ridiculous Endless Wars' as he defends dramatic shift in Syria policy
Read more »
Melania Trump heads downriver in Wyoming as Trump faces uphill battle in WashingtonA fire tore through an apartment building in the Bronx, injuring 10 people -- including nine responding firefighters -- before it was brought under control hours later, officials said
Read more »