Reports that Turkey will invade within 24 hours landed as a dire warning to the Kurds of northern Syria during the early morning hours Wednesday, just one day after the United States announced the removal of troops from the area.

“A bad situation in Northeast Syria is about to get much worse,” Washington Post columnist David Ignatius said on Tuesday night. “Sources tell me that US officials have just informed the Syrian Kurds that Turkey is likely to attack on air and ground in next 24 hours. The US will do nothing.” President Trump abruptly announced the removal of U.S. troops from key areas in northern Syria on Sunday, blindsiding Kurdish allies of the U.S. and the Pentagon.