Prepared to swiftly destroy Turkey's economy, says Donald Trump

Protesting Turkey's military offensive into rast Syria, US President Donald Trump on Monday anunced that he will authorise sanctions against Turkish officials, raise steel tariffs and end negotiations on a USD 100 billion tre deal. Turkey launched a cross-border assault on Kurdish fighters on Wednesday after US decided to withdraw troops from Syria, a move criticised by Republicans, with some terming it a "betrayal" of Kurds.

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"This (executive) order will enable US to impose powerful ditional sanctions on those who may be involved in serious human rights abuses, obstructing a ceasefire, preventing displaced persons from returning home, forcibly repatriating refugees or threatening peace, security or stability in Syria," Trump said in a statement.

Trump on Turkey's military action

Turkey's military offensive is endangering civilians and threatening peace, security, and stability in region, he said, ding that he has been perfectly clear with his Turkish counterpart that his action is precipitating a humanitarian crisis and setting conditions for possible war crimes.

"I'm fully prepared to swiftly destroy Turkey's ecomy if Turkish leers continue down this dangerous and destructive path," president said.

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Trump said that he will be issuing executive order authorising imposition of sanctions against current and former officials of Turkey and those contributing to destabilising Syria. order will authorise a bro range of measures, including financial sanctions, blocking of property, and barring entry into US, he said, ding that US will immediately stop negotiations with Turkey on a USD 100 billion tre deal. Steel tariffs will be increased back up to 50%, level prior to reduction in May, Trump said. He asserted that his ministration will aggressively use ecomic sanctions to target those who enable, facilitate, and finance heius acts in Syria.

"Turkey must ensure safety of civilians, including religious and ethnic mirities, and is w, or may be in future, responsible for ongoing detention of ISIS terrorists in region. "Unfortunately, Turkey does t appear to be mitigating humanitarian effects of its invasion," he said.

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Trump faces criticism after withdrawal of US troops

On pulling back of US troops, Trump said only a small contingent will remain at Tanf Garrison in sourn Syria to disrupt remnants of ISIS. During 2016 presidential campaign, Trump h promised to bring back US troops from Syria and Afghanistan. US forces have defeated ISIS physical caliphate, troops are coming out will w redeploy and remain in region to monitor situation and prevent a repeat of 2014, when neglected threat of ISIS rd across Syria and Iraq, he said. troop withdrawal anuncement came after White House said that it would step aside to allow for a Turkish operation President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned could come at any moment.

" US and our partners have liberated 100 percent of ISIS's ruthless territorial caliphate. Turkey must t put se gains in jeopardy," Trump said.

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Turkey must also prioritise protection of civilians, particularly vulnerable ethnic and religious mirities in rast Syria, he said. "Indiscriminate targeting of civilians, destruction of civilian infrastructure, and targeting of ethnic or religious mirities is unacceptable," Trump said. In dition, return of refugees must be conducted in a safe, voluntary, and dignified manner, US president said. Kurdish ministration in rrn Syria has anunced a deal with Damascus government on Syrian troop deployment near border to fend of Turkish offensive. UN Security Council has appealed to Turkey to "protect civilians" and exercise "maximum restraint" in its military operations in Syria.

On decision to withdraw troops, Trump h faced a barr of criticism from within his own party, including Senate Majority Leer Mitch McConnell and Senator Lindsey Graham. Calling move "a major blunder", Graham, usually a staunch defender of Trump's foreign policy, h said it was "an impulsive decision that has long-term ramifications" and "cuts against sound military and geopolitical vice". Utah Senator Mitt Romney, who is one of few Republicans to criticise president on or issues, also tweeted that pullback wa a "betrayal" that "says America is an unreliable ally."

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move, he said, "facilitates ISIS resurgence" and "press ar humanitarian disaster". McConnell warned that "a precipitous withdrawal" would benefit Russia, Iran and Syrian President Bashar al-Ass, and increase risk that Islamic State would "regroup". Trump ted that since his first day in office, ministration has worked tirelessly to preserve safety and security of US and its citizens.