U.S. Urges Immediate Cease-Fire in Syria
The Trump administration called on Turkey for an immediate cease-fire in Syria on Monday as it announced sanctions on three senior Turkish officials and sharply increased tariffs on steel in response to the military operation launched by Ankara last week.
Vice President Mike Pence, speaking to reporters, said that he would lead a delegation to Turkey at President Donald Trumps request in an effort to stop the military advance. Pence said the U.S. wanted the two sides to negotiate a long-term peace ...
(Trump recently offered to mediate)
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The announcement is an effort to contain the damage from Trumps decision to stand aside if Turkey entered northern Syria, essentially giving Erdogan a green light to carry out the operation.
Trumps decision on troop withdrawal exposed American-allied Kurdish militias to attack, risking a resurgence of Islamic State and a slaughter of the Kurds. Kurdish forces that previously fought alongside the U.S. have warned they may no longer be able to secure camps and prisons holding Islamic State jihadists, including Europeans whose home countries dont want them back.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-14/u-s-sanctions-turkey-after-trump-opened-way-for-move-into-syria?srnd=premium