President Donald Trump said Wednesday he was lifting US sanctions on Turkey after the latter informed his administration it was making the ceasefire with Syria “permanent”.
The sanctions were announced by the United States on October 14 after Turkey invaded areas held by Syrian Kurds in northeastern Syria, which had followed Trump’s withdrawal of American troops deployed in the area, for which he was widely criticized at home by both critics and allies.
Making the announcement from the White House, Trump also said that the use of the word “permanent” is questionable in the region and that he will hold to it until something happens that “we are not happy with”, which he did not define.
The ceasefire would effect a swathe of land 20 miles wide on the Syria-Turkey border — now called the “safe zone” — which was earlier held by Syrian Kurds, allies of United States in the battle against the Islamic States. Turkey and Russia, who began jointly patrolling the area last week, will control this territory now.
“Let someone else fight over this long-bloodstained sand,” Trump said. He has ascribed his controversial decision to exit the region -- and plans to leave Afghanistan -- to his election promise of ending “endless wars” and bringing home American troops. Some of the US forces withdrawn from these areas previously held by Kurds, will stay in the region to guard oil wells, he said.
Trump described the Wednesday development as a “Big success on the Turkey/Syria border.” in a tweet, which went on to say, “Safe Zone created! Ceasefire has held and combat missions have ended. Kurds are safe and have worked very nicely with us. Captured ISIS prisoners secured.”
{{/usCountry}}Trump described the Wednesday development as a “Big success on the Turkey/Syria border.” in a tweet, which went on to say, “Safe Zone created! Ceasefire has held and combat missions have ended. Kurds are safe and have worked very nicely with us. Captured ISIS prisoners secured.”
{{/usCountry}}But he later conceded “a few got out, a small number, few”.