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Trump makes way for Turkey operation against Kurds in Syria Trump makes way for Turkey operation against Kurds in Syria
(32 minutes later)
The US says it is stepping aside for an imminent Turkish operation against Kurdish-led forces within Syria that have until now been a key US ally.The US says it is stepping aside for an imminent Turkish operation against Kurdish-led forces within Syria that have until now been a key US ally.
Kurdish militias played a major role in defeating the Islamic State (IS) group, but Turkey regards them as terrorists.Kurdish militias played a major role in defeating the Islamic State (IS) group, but Turkey regards them as terrorists.
The US - which has hundreds of troops near the Turkey-Syria border - has reportedly begun to withdraw them. The US - which has hundreds of troops in north-eastern Syria - has begun to withdraw them from border areas.
The main Kurdish-led force has condemned the pullout and accused the US of abandoning its fighters.The main Kurdish-led force has condemned the pullout and accused the US of abandoning its fighters.
In January, President Trump threatened to "devastate Turkey economically" if it attacked Kurdish forces.In January, President Trump threatened to "devastate Turkey economically" if it attacked Kurdish forces.
However, a White House statement issued on Sunday makes no reference to the Kurdish fighters of the YPG. However, a White House statement issued on Sunday makes no reference to the Kurdish fighters.
The statement followed a phone call between President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.The statement followed a phone call between President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
What did the White House say?What did the White House say?
"Turkey will soon be moving forward with its long-planned operation into northern Syria," the statement said."Turkey will soon be moving forward with its long-planned operation into northern Syria," the statement said.
"The United States Armed Forces will not support or be involved in the operation, and United States forces, having defeated the ISIS territorial 'Caliphate', will no longer be in the immediate area." "The United States Armed Forces will not support or be involved in the operation, and United States forces, having defeated the Isis territorial 'Caliphate', will no longer be in the immediate area."
The White House also said that Turkey would take over all responsibility for IS fighters captured by Kurdish forces over the past two years.The White House also said that Turkey would take over all responsibility for IS fighters captured by Kurdish forces over the past two years.
Tens of thousands of former IS fighters, their wives and children are held in Kurdish-run camps in Syria. More than 12,000 men are held on suspicion of being IS members in Kurdish-controlled camps located south of the Turkey's planned "safe zone". At least 4,000 of them are foreign nationals.
"The United States government has pressed France, Germany, and other European nations, from which many captured ISIS fighters came, to take them back but they did not want them and refused.
"The United States will not hold them for what could be many years and great cost to the United States taxpayer."
US allies betrayedUS allies betrayed
This represents a significant shift in US policy - President Trump acting against the advice of many in the Pentagon and state department.This represents a significant shift in US policy - President Trump acting against the advice of many in the Pentagon and state department.
It risks a recasting of alliances in Syria. The Kurds may be forced to seek an accommodation with the Assad government. The potential chaos could facilitate a resurgence of IS. Indeed the US withdrawal of its forces from the border area may herald the full withdrawal of troops from Syria that Mr Trump has long wanted.It risks a recasting of alliances in Syria. The Kurds may be forced to seek an accommodation with the Assad government. The potential chaos could facilitate a resurgence of IS. Indeed the US withdrawal of its forces from the border area may herald the full withdrawal of troops from Syria that Mr Trump has long wanted.
It marks a betrayal of Washington's Kurdish allies, a betrayal that many other countries in the region will note with alarm.It marks a betrayal of Washington's Kurdish allies, a betrayal that many other countries in the region will note with alarm.
Both the Saudis and the Israelis are increasingly realising that Mr Trump's robust rhetoric is rarely matched by actions.Both the Saudis and the Israelis are increasingly realising that Mr Trump's robust rhetoric is rarely matched by actions.
Last month the Syria Study Group, a bipartisan body commissioned by Congress, stated in its final report that the US still has significant security interests in Syria and retains some policy levers with which to influence events there. But that is clearly not Present Trump's view.Last month the Syria Study Group, a bipartisan body commissioned by Congress, stated in its final report that the US still has significant security interests in Syria and retains some policy levers with which to influence events there. But that is clearly not Present Trump's view.
What is Turkey's plan?
Late on Sunday, Mr Erdogan's office said that he and President Trump had spoken on the phone about Turkey's plan to set up a "safe zone" in north-eastern Syria.
It said the move was needed to combat "terrorists" and create "the conditions necessary for the return of Syrian refugees to their native country".
Turkey hosts more than 3.6 million Syrians who fled the civil war that began in 2011. It wants to move up to two million of the refugees from its territory into the zone.
In his call with Mr Trump, President Erdogan also expressed his "frustration over the US military and security bureaucracy's failure" to implement an agreement reached in August about the zone, his office said.
On Saturday, he warned that Turkish forces could launch a cross-border offensive in the coming days.
He has not given any details about the scale of the planned offensive.
How have the Kurds reacted?How have the Kurds reacted?
On Monday the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - who occupy former IS territory in the north-east of Syria - said US forces had begun to withdraw from border areas, accusing them of US failing to "fulfil their responsibilities". On Monday the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - who occupy former IS territory in north-eastern Syria - said US forces had begun to withdraw from border areas, accusing them of failing to "fulfil their responsibilities".
An SDF spokesman said the group was "determined to defend NE Syria at all costs".
In a separate tweet, the group called the planned Turkish operation a "mechanism of death" that could turn the area into a zone of "permanent war".In a separate tweet, the group called the planned Turkish operation a "mechanism of death" that could turn the area into a zone of "permanent war".
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, also said US forces had pulled back from key positions.
Kurdish TV in northern Iraq said the SDF had put some of its units on alert because the Turkish army had mobilised troops on the border on Monday.Kurdish TV in northern Iraq said the SDF had put some of its units on alert because the Turkish army had mobilised troops on the border on Monday.
What's the background? What is Turkey planning?
The YPG was a major part of the SDF, the US-supported force that defeated IS in Syria. Late on Sunday, Mr Erdogan's office said that he and President Trump had spoken on the phone about Turkey's plan to set up a "safe zone" in north-eastern Syria.
Turkey considers the YPG an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) which has fought for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey for three decades. It said the move was needed to combat "terrorists" and create "the conditions necessary for the return of Syrian refugees to their native country".
The YPG denies any direct organisational links to the PKK. Turkey considers the Kurdish YPG militia - the dominant force in the SDF alliance - an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has fought for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey for three decades.
Turkey has previously condemned the US for supporting the YPG. Turkey hosts more than 3.6 million Syrians who fled the civil war that began in 2011. It wants to move up to two million of them into the zone.
In his call with Mr Trump, President Erdogan also expressed his "frustration over the US military and security bureaucracy's failure" to implement an agreement reached in August about the zone, his office said.
On Saturday, he warned that Turkish forces could launch a cross-border offensive in the coming days, but have no details.
How large will the Turkish operation be?
Analysis by Quentin Sommerville, Middle East correspondent
Invasion or incursion? That's the uppermost question about Turkish action in north-eastern Syria. Initial indications would point to a limited incursion by Turkey along a 60-mile (100km) stretch between the towns of Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ain.
It's a sparsely populated, mostly Arab area. American forces have already withdrawn from four border positions there, but they haven't withdrawn from any positions further east and west.
Similarly, the big Kurdish towns and cities along the border, Kobane and Qamishili and others, remain calm. There's been no call for people to evacuate from those areas.
Prisons full of IS foreign fighters are further south and will continue to be under Kurdish control - if Turkey restricts itself to a limited assault.
Nevertheless, British and American special forces have for months been making preparations for a partial or full withdrawal from the area if the situation escalates.