Published 18:34 IST, October 23rd 2019
Donald Trump claims safe zone created in Syria, calls it ‘big success’
US President Donald Trump declared that a safe zone has been created along the Turkish border, calling it a ‘big success’, and said that the ceasefire has held.
US President Donald Trump declared that a 'safe zone' has been created in Syria along the Turkish border, calling it a ‘big success’. He further added that the ceasefire has held and combat missions have ended. Trump took to Twitter to announce that the captured Islamic State prisoners have been secured and he will be making a detailed statement at 11.00 am local time.
Trump faced criticism for troop withdrawal
Trump faced severe criticism from the Democrats as well as many Republican leaders over his decision to pull back troops from northeastern Syria. The decision led to the Turkish incursion which was followed by a bloody clash between Turkish forces and Syrian Kurdish fighters. Democrats blamed Trump for giving a green signal to an impending clash.
Trump, to control the damage, threatened Turkey of destroying the economy if they don’t stop the Syrian offensive and also asked the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, not to be a “fool”. This was followed by an agreement with Turkey for a five-day ceasefire.
Republicans introduced resolution against the withdrawal
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell and other top Republican senators had introduced a resolution opposing the decision of Trump Administration to withdraw troops from northeastern Syria after the House of Representatives approved a similar resolution last week. The Senators had warned that such a move will benefit Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the Islamic State, Russia, and Iran.
The deadline of the ceasefire ended on October 22 and Erdogan took no time to warn Syrian Kurdish fighters of yet another offensive. Erdogan said that around 800 Syrian Kurdish fighters have already left but 1,300 fighters are yet to vacate the region.
“If America does not keep to its promises, our offensive will continue from where it left off, with a much greater determination”, Erdogan said. “There is no place for them (Kurdish fighters) in Syria’s future. We hope that with Russia’s cooperation, we will rid the region of separatist terror”, he added.
Updated 18:48 IST, October 23rd 2019