President Trump defended his decision to withdraw U.S. troops from northern Syria while also blaming the Kurds for ISIS prisoners being released.
“Europe had a chance to get their ISIS prisoners, but didn’t want the cost. ‘Let the USA pay,’ they said,” Trump tweet Monday morning. “Kurds may be releasing some to get us involved. Easily recaptured by Turkey or European Nations from where many came, but they should move quickly.”
….Kurds may be releasing some to get us involved. Easily recaptured by Turkey or European Nations from where many came, but they should move quickly. Big sanctions on Turkey coming! Do people really think we should go to war with NATO Member Turkey? Never ending wars will end!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 14, 2019
The Kurds announced Sunday that nearly 1,000 ISIS supporters escaped a Syrian camp as Turkish forces approached Kurdish territory. Detainees attacked the camp guards and escaped after Turkey bombed villages nearby.
Trump announced a week ago that the United States would be pulling out of northern Syria, allowing Turkey to invade the territory from their southern border. On Tuesday, Turkey had already begun bombings, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan officially declared the country’s military invasion.
Erdoğan claims the country wants to create a “safe zone” in northern Syria. He views the Kurds, who are American allies and helped fight ISIS, as terrorists, and some worry Turkey will try to commit genocide by attacking them.
Trump has defended his decision to leave Syria as fulfilling his promise to end “endless wars.”
