Published 18:41 IST, October 9th 2019
'US going into Middle East was the worst decision ever': Donald Trump
US President Donald Trump, on Oct 9, said the United States going into the Middle East was the worst decision ever made in the history of the country.
US President Donald Trump, on October 9, said the United States going into the Middle East was the worst decision ever made in the history of the country. After deciding to pull back the US troops from northern Syria, Trump took to Twitter to announce the country’s Middle East policy.
Trump's threat to destroy Turkey's economy
The US President warned Turkey for doing anything that is “considered to be off-limits” and threatened to “totally destroy and obliterate the Economy of Turkey”. He said, though the US troops are in the process of leaving Syria, they have not abandoned the Kurds calling them ‘special and wonderful’ fighters. Trump also clearly stated that the US is helping the Kurds financially and with weapons. Meanwhile, Turkey, in an apparent reply to Donald Trump’s warning, said that they will go ahead with their military operations in northeastern Syria.
Confirmation from the White House
Earlier, the White House, in a statement, had confirmed the withdrawal of US troops and put the responsibility on Turkey for all ISIS fighters.
“The United States Armed Forces will not support or be involved in the operation, and United States forces, having defeated the ISIS territorial ‘Caliphate,‘ will no longer be in the immediate area,” the statement read.
Criticised some European Nations
The Statement also criticised some of the European Nations for not taking back the ISIS fighters. “The United States Government has pressed France, Germany, and other European nations, from which many captured ISIS fighters came, to take them back, but they did not want them and refused. The United States will not hold them for what could be many years and great cost to the United States taxpayer,” it said. “Turkey will now be responsible for all ISIS fighters in the area captured over the past two years,” it added.
Updated 19:06 IST, October 9th 2019