Istanbul - Turkey said on Tuesday it had
completed preparations for a military operation in northeast
Syria after the United States began pulling back troops, opening
the way for a Turkish attack on Kurdish-led forces long allied
to Washington.
But US President Donald Trump warned he would "obliterate"
the NATO ally's economy if it took action in Syria that he
considered "off limits" following his decision on Sunday to pull
50 American special forces troops from the border region.
The US move will leave its Kurdish-led partner forces in
Syria vulnerable to an incursion by the Turkish Armed Forces
(TSK), which brands them terrorists because of their links to
Kurdish militants who have waged a long insurgency in Turkey.
"The TSK will never tolerate the establishment of a terror
corridor on our borders. All preparations for the operation have
been completed," the Turkish Defence Ministry said on Twitter
early on Tuesday.
"It is essential to establish a safe zone/peace corridor to
contribute to our region's peace and stability, and for Syrians
to achieve a safe life," it said.
Turkey does not appear "as of now" to have begun its
expected incursion into northern Syria, a senior Trump
administration official said on Monday.
A Reuters witness said there was no sign of military
activity on Tuesday near the Turkish border town of Akcakale,
across from Syria's Tel Abyad. Howitzers were positioned behind
earth embankments on the Turkish side of the border, pointed
towards Syria.
US forces evacuated two observation posts at Tel Abyad and
Ras al Ain on Monday, a U.S. official said.
Trump's warning on Turkey's economy appeared aimed at
placating critics who accused him of abandoning the Syrian Kurds
by pulling out U.S. forces. The decision drew criticism from
Democrats and a rebuke from some of Trump's fellow Republicans
in Congress, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
"As I have stated strongly before, and just to reiterate, if
Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom,
consider to be off limits, I will totally destroy and obliterate
the Economy of Turkey (I've done before!)" Trump tweeted.
As I have stated strongly before, and just to reiterate, if Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off limits, I will totally destroy and obliterate the Economy of Turkey (I’ve done before!). They must, with Europe and others, watch over...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2019
....the captured ISIS fighters and families. The U.S. has done far more than anyone could have ever expected, including the capture of 100% of the ISIS Caliphate. It is time now for others in the region, some of great wealth, to protect their own territory. THE USA IS GREAT!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2019
"RED FLAG"
His remarks met an angry response in Turkey, including from
opposition party politicians such as Iyi Party leader Meral
Aksener who said it was a day to put aside domestic politics.
"Threatening Turkey's economy is a diplomatic catastrophe,"
she told her party's lawmakers in a speech in parliament. "Today
there is only one party and that is our red (Turkish) flag."
"The best response to this insolence is to go into the east
of the Euphrates and break the terror corridor," she added.
The Kurdish-led forces, who have been Washington's most
capable partners in fighting Islamic State in Syria, have
denounced the major shift in US policy as "stab in the back".
Mustafa Bali, an official with the Kurdish-led Syrian
Democratic Forces (SDF) said the continued Turkish military
buildup on the border, together with information about further
mobilisation of Turkey-backed Syrian rebels, indicated that "an
attack is imminent and we expect it soon".
"Naturally our preparations are along the length of the
border with Turkey and our forces are in a state of readiness,"
Bali told Reuters.
The United States expects Turkey to take responsibility for
captive Islamic State fighters in northeastern Syria if Ankara's
planned incursion seizes areas where the detained militants are
held, a senior State Department official said.
The captives are held in SDF facilities south of a safe zone
initially proposed by Turkey.
Turkish forces artillery pieces are seen on their new positions near the border with Syria in Sanliurfa province, Turkey, on Sunday. Picture: DHA via AP
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said overnight
it was Turkey's fundamental right to take necessary measures for
its national security against terrorism threats from Syria.
"Turkey is determined to clear terrorists from the east of
the Euphrates and protect its own security and survival while
implementing a secure zone in order to achieve peace and
stability," Aksoy said in a written statement.
Iran, President Bashar al-Assad's main regional ally, said
it opposed any Turkish military operation in Syria.
President Tayyip Erdogan has said Turkey plans to resettle
two million refugees in northern Syria and Turkish media has
said the draft resettlement plan involves a 151 billion lira
($26 billion) construction project. Turkey hosts 3.6 million
Syrian refugees.
The Trump administration official, briefing reporters on a
conference call, said 50 U.S. troops in the region that Turkey
has targeted would be redeployed elsewhere in Syria "where they
aren't in the crossfire." The United States has about 1,000
troops in Syria.
Turkey's lira lost 2% of its value against the
dollar to hit its weakest level since early September but edged
off its lows to 5.8195 on Tuesday. Turkey's sovereign dollar
bonds also came under fresh pressure.
Ties between Ankara and Washington have long been tense over
a range of issues including Syria policy and Turkey's purchase
of a Russian missile defence system.