U.S. Cedes Syrian City to Russia in 'Battlefield Handover' as Turkey Tries to Take It

[TomCADem]

Source: MSN/Newsweek

The U.S. military has begun a hasty exit from Syria's northern city of Manbij, and is set to help Russia establish itself there amid a Turkish attempt to defeat Kurdish-led, Pentagon-backed fighters at the strategic location, Newsweek has learned.

The U.S. was scheduled as of Monday to officially withdraw from Manbij within 24-hours, leaving the mostly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces behind as two rival factions—the Syrian government, backed by Russia and Iran, and the Turkey-backed Syrian insurgents opposed to it—sought to seize control of the strategic location. A senior Pentagon official told Newsweek that U.S. personnel, "having been in the area for longer, has been assisting the Russian forces to navigate through previously unsafe areas quickly."

"It is essentially a handover," the official said. "However, it's a quick out, not something that will include walk-throughs, etc., everything is about making out with as much as possible of our things while destroying any sensitive equipment that cannot be moved."

Contacted by Newsweek on Monday, no reply was returned from the Pentagon before publication.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/exclusive-us-cedes-syrian-city-to-russia-in-battlefield-handover-as-turkey-tries-to-take-it/ar-AAILRH2?li=BBnbcA1

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By leaving the kurds unprotected from Turkey, Trump managed to help Russia and Iran and driving Syria even closer to Russia. Well done Republicans.

[Iliyah]

1. I wonder how Israel feels.

[DeminPennswoods]

2. If the Israelis feel threatened, they will intervene

in some fashion. They take threats to their country very seriously.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

16. I wonder how Japan, South Korea feel.

Trump could pull the troops out, leave them vulnerable to China and North Korea.

[dixiegrrrrl]

19. I expect him to do that. n/t

[IronLionZion]

24. As soon as Trump finds out whose side Japan was on in WWII

or Germany.

But I guess no one told him about Turkey.

[LeftInTX]

17. As of early last week, Israel started providing monetary aid to the Kurds

Who knows after today......

[vlyons]

3. Putin must be very pleased

nt

[keithbvadu2]

6. Very pleased! Putting money into Trump was the best investment Putin ever made.

[sanatanadharma]

4. Unplanned pull-out, perhaps a rout

Why do Republicans hate the military?

"Did anyone shred THE LIST?" Oh! Shiite!

One word
OK, two

[ancianita]

10. AND why doesn't the military hate the Republicans! And Trump!

[Newest Reality]

5. Well,

is it too speculative to say that was a B-day present for Putin?

When you ask what Trump's motivation was, it was not a gut reaction, nor was it impulsive. I can't help but consider the huge oil and gas reserves in Syria as one important aspect of this action, among others that are political and strategic for Russia, et al. It's a grab-bag of goodies.

The influence that Putin has is being demonstrated by Trump's actions, (and inaction) and there are valid reasons to consider the two as connected. We are beholden to an Oligarch by a wannabe tin pot dictator, (and his other motivations). This is deep.

What's behind this is tangled and complex, but we know that.

[yaesu]

7. Russia can't kick this punk countries ass anytime, anywhere as long as putins orange turd is

calling the shots. I hope the vets learn a very hard lesson and don't run to the polls to vote for tRump like they did the last time.

[roamer65]

8. So will the Turks fight the Russians?

[ancianita]

11. Nope. But Russia will use them as staging for its ongoing hybrid warfare on NATO and the EU.

[roamer65]

18. We need to kick Turkey out of NATO.

Move all nukes, equipment and personnel to Greece.

If Turkey remains intransigent, we should then invade Turkish-occupied Eastern Thrace. Push them back across the Bosphorus.

[ancianita]

22. Sounds like a good new policy toward Turkey. Realistic. I can go for that.

[gibraltar72]

9. Cut and run.

[jpak]

12. Beat me to it.

[doc03]

13. Who is going to back us in the future when we

really need it after we cut and run? If Obama had done this they would already have an impeachment vote.

[NightWatcher]

14. How is this not surrendering a town to the Russians?

Because it sounds to me that under trump, we just surrendered a town to the Russians.

[dixiegrrrrl]

20. bigger than that..

we just gave Syria to them.

[spike jones]

15. More generally, " U.S. Cedes .... to Russia." n/t

[Evolve Dammit]

21. Trump is a traitor. If we can't hold him accountable, hand him over to the Kurds. They will.

[debsy]

23. Our troops are in danger as are 50 tactical nukes.

This is the beginning of a war of distraction.

[malthaussen]

25. No real surprise. They've already ceded our country to the Russians. n/t

[Blue_Tires]

26. IMPEACHMENT WHEN