TheCount
10-15-2019, 10:59 PM
Turkish-backed militias carrying out attacks in northern Syria came very close to American forces on the ground on Tuesday, putting them and their base "directly at risk," a U.S. official in Syria tells NPR.
"The Turkish forces violated a standing agreement with the U.S. to not get close enough to threaten U.S. troops on the ground," the official says. "U.S. forces responded with a show of force using aircraft to demonstrate the forces were prepared to defend themselves, as well as communication with the Turkish military through formal channels to protest the risk to U.S. forces."
The U.S. show of force included Apache attack helicopters and F-15 warplanes. No shots were fired, the official says.
The potential risk to U.S. personnel came on the same day Russia said its military is now acting as a buffer between Turkish and Syrian troops along the border. And on Monday, U.S. NATO allies decided to halt weapons exports to Turkey over the incursion.
Days after seemingly acquiescing to a Turkish invasion of northern Syria aimed at routing the U.S.'s Kurdish allies, the White House has officially reversed course, calling for a cease-fire, imposing economic sanctions and dispatching Vice President Pence to Ankara.
https://www.npr.org/2019/10/15/770209247/u-s-imposes-sanctions-on-turkey-for-invasion-of-syria
"The Turkish forces violated a standing agreement with the U.S. to not get close enough to threaten U.S. troops on the ground," the official says. "U.S. forces responded with a show of force using aircraft to demonstrate the forces were prepared to defend themselves, as well as communication with the Turkish military through formal channels to protest the risk to U.S. forces."
The U.S. show of force included Apache attack helicopters and F-15 warplanes. No shots were fired, the official says.
The potential risk to U.S. personnel came on the same day Russia said its military is now acting as a buffer between Turkish and Syrian troops along the border. And on Monday, U.S. NATO allies decided to halt weapons exports to Turkey over the incursion.
Days after seemingly acquiescing to a Turkish invasion of northern Syria aimed at routing the U.S.'s Kurdish allies, the White House has officially reversed course, calling for a cease-fire, imposing economic sanctions and dispatching Vice President Pence to Ankara.
https://www.npr.org/2019/10/15/770209247/u-s-imposes-sanctions-on-turkey-for-invasion-of-syria