webfact Posted December 23, 2018 Share Posted December 23, 2018 Turkey bolsters military on Syrian border as U.S. readies pull-out By Yesim Dikmen and Ali Kucukgocmen FILE PHOTO: A wall along the border between Turkey and Syria is seen in Kilis province, Turkey, January 30, 2018. REUTERS/Murad Sezer ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey began reinforcing its positions on both sides of its border with Syria on Sunday, a Reuters witness said, as Ankara and Washington agreed to coordinate a U.S. withdrawal from Syria. The heightened military activity comes two days after President Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would postpone a planned military operation on Kurdish YPG militia east of the Euphrates river in northern Syria following the U.S. decision to pull out. He also said Turkey would take over the fight against Islamic State militants. The Turkish presidency said Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump in a phone call on Sunday agreed to establish military and diplomatic coordination to prevent an authority vacuum from developing as the United States withdraws. Earlier in the day, footage from broadcaster TRT World showed some Turkish convoys entering Syria via the Turkish border town of Karkamis, which is located some 35 km (22 miles) north of the northern Syrian town of Manbij. The convoys are crossing into an area controlled by the Free Syrian Army (FSA), a Turkish ally, and are heading to the frontlines of Manbij, TRT World said. Manbij has been a major flashpoint between Ankara and Washington. In June, the NATO allies reached an agreement that would see the YPG ousted from the town but Turkey has complained the roadmap has been delayed and said Turkish forces would enter the town if the United States does not remove the Kurdish militants. The YPG has been a main U.S. ally in the fight against Islamic State. Ankara says the militia is a terrorist organisation and an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged an insurgency in Turkey since the 1980s. HUNDREDS OF VEHICLES A Reuters witness saw hundreds of vehicles head to the southern border province of Kilis after leaving Hatay, another border province, around 0030 GMT on Sunday, as citizens sounded their horns to celebrate. The convoy included tanks, howitzers, machine guns and buses carrying commandos, the witness said. Part of the military equipment and personnel are to be positioned in posts along the border while some had crossed into Syria via the district of Elbeyli situated some 45 km (28 miles) northwest of Manbij, Demiroren News Agency (DHA) reported. Reuters could not independently verify the reason for the reinforcements and Turkish officials were not immediately available for comment. Turkey, with support from the FSA, carried out two cross-border operations in northern Syria, dubbed "Euphrates Shield" and "Olive Branch", against the YPG and Islamic State. The military offensives were focused on areas to the west of the Euphrates and Turkey has not gone east of the river, partly to avoid direct confrontation with U.S. forces. The operations carved out de facto buffer zones, which are currently under the control of Turkey and the FSA. (Reporting by Yesim Dikmen; Additional reporting by Tulay Karadeniz; Writing by Ali Kucukgocmen; Editing by Richard Balmforth) -- © Copyright Reuters 2018-12-24 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cryingdick Posted December 23, 2018 Share Posted December 23, 2018 The Turks are less concerned about how they conduct warfare than the USA. They will fight fire with fire. if i were an ISIS fighter I wouldn't be looking forward to fighting an army that will fight you at your own level and isn't as sensitive to the use of human shields. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tug Posted December 23, 2018 Share Posted December 23, 2018 If you are a Kurd you are in deep dodo cause Donald left you to be rubbed out makes me ashamed to be an American Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cryingdick Posted December 24, 2018 Share Posted December 24, 2018 22 minutes ago, Tug said: If you are a Kurd you are in deep dodo cause Donald left you to be rubbed out makes me ashamed to be an American Yes, the Kurds are in a bad spot. Especially given the fact that when the USA leaves most of the western media will leave with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chomper Higgot Posted December 24, 2018 Share Posted December 24, 2018 7 minutes ago, Cryingdick said: Yes, the Kurds are in a bad spot. Especially given the fact that when the USA leaves most of the western media will leave with them. ‘A bad spot’. They are being left open for slaughter by Trump’s withdrawal. Good look finding allies when the US has to go back in to fight a resurgent ISIS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cryingdick Posted December 24, 2018 Share Posted December 24, 2018 3 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said: ‘A bad spot’. They are being left open for slaughter by Trump’s withdrawal. Good look finding allies when the US has to go back in to fight a resurgent ISIS. The Kurds were in a terrible spot before the USA got involved. It isn't like they suddenly decided to become allies with the USA. They were getting gassed by Saddam before we were in the region. The USA simply can't stay there until a country called Kurdistan is realized. Hopefully the Germans, French and British will step in. If they do not they are going to end up with another wave of refugees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammieuk1 Posted December 24, 2018 Share Posted December 24, 2018 The doggy sultan will again start suppling ISIS no doubt to batter the Kurds and save himself a job???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marko kok prong Posted December 24, 2018 Share Posted December 24, 2018 Who is Erdogan kidding he doesn't give a fig about Isis,he want's to hammer the Kurds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cryingdick Posted December 24, 2018 Share Posted December 24, 2018 8 minutes ago, marko kok prong said: Who is Erdogan kidding he doesn't give a fig about Isis,he want's to hammer the Kurds. i don't think he likes isis either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farcanell Posted December 24, 2018 Share Posted December 24, 2018 I don’t understand why trump is leaving.... look at that big beautiful wall... so big... so beautiful. Take it Donny.... take it... you know you want too ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
car720 Posted December 24, 2018 Share Posted December 24, 2018 7 hours ago, Cryingdick said: The Turks are less concerned about how they conduct warfare than the USA. They will fight fire with fire. if i were an ISIS fighter I wouldn't be looking forward to fighting an army that will fight you at your own level and isn't as sensitive to the use of human shields. Yep. Fight fire with fire, I have always said. Though I don't take to the Kurds being stabbed in the back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulic Posted December 24, 2018 Share Posted December 24, 2018 9 hours ago, Cryingdick said: The Turks are less concerned about how they conduct warfare than the USA. They will fight fire with fire. if i were an ISIS fighter I wouldn't be looking forward to fighting an army that will fight you at your own level and isn't as sensitive to the use of human shields. The Turks don't give a rats ass about ISIS. In the past, at best they turn a blind eye. At worst they support them buying discounted oil and allowed foreign fighters to cross the border to join ISIS. Erdogan is just getting ready to fight/massacre the Kurds and you are right they are not concerned about rules of engagement and the Kurds civilian population. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farcanell Posted December 24, 2018 Share Posted December 24, 2018 10 hours ago, Cryingdick said: The Turks are less concerned about how they conduct warfare than the USA. They will fight fire with fire.... Or they will fight fire with chemicals weapons, as the case might be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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