US Treasury Secretary: 'Sanctions on Turkey if there's no ceasefire'

Washington: US Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin released a statement stating the nation will ratchet up economic pressure on Turkey if it doesn’t agree to stop the alleged violent attacks and offensive on the Kurdish army in northern Syria, on Wednesday, October 16.  

Turkey rejects all international pressures to stop its war against the Kurds

However, Turkey has rejected all international pressures to stop its war against the Kurds in the war-torn areas of Syria. After facing criticisms for calling the US troops back from Syria, US President Donald Trump this week, imposed sanctions on top Turkish officials and imposed punitive tariffs on Turkish imports, vowing to "destroy" the Turkish economy unless Ankara relents.

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Mnuchin told media agencies that additional sanctions will be put in case Turkey refuses to ceasefire, also stating that Washington could target more Turkish ministries and industries. He also added that his expectation is that the US is really focused on sanctions on Turkey and will have the necessary impact on their economy. According to reports, US Vice President Mike Pence left Washington on Wednesday for Ankara, where he is expected to demand a ceasefire. 

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       President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dismisses US requests for a ceasefire 

According to local media reports, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently dismissed all the US requests for a ceasefire. Erdogan declared that he is not at all worried about any sanctions that the US has announced. Turkey last week began an operation to drive back Syrian Kurdish militants from northern Syria after the US pulled 1,000 troops out of the area. 

Read: Fearing US Abandonment, Kurds Kept BackChannels Wide Open

 Soon after the US government withdrew its troops from Syria, the Turkish offensive saw that as an opportunity to attack the Kurdish forces, creating a massive backlash for Trump. The American president meanwhile has sent mixed messages, at times threatening Ankara, and at others, suggesting the US had no role in the fight between Turkey and Kurdish militants. 

Clashes have continued across the region, with Kurdish fighters in the border town of Ras al-Ain burning tires in a bid to blind Ankara's warplanes and digging in against a ground offensive by Turkish-backed Syrian rebels. 

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