Turkish Forces Launch Military Attack Against Kurds At Syrian Border

Maine Republic (Reuters) ^ | 9 October, 2019 | BILL CHAPPELL & SCOTT NEUMAN

[BeauBo]

Turkish forces began crossing the Syrian border on Wednesday, launching an operation in Kurdish-dominated areas of the country's north, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced... Airstrikes have reportedly hit in or near Kobane... to the west of where U.S. troops are located.

The official adds that they believe the offensive will both spread and intensify overnight into Thursday, likely encompassing the entire border.

Trump said that Turkey has promised to protect civilians and religious minorities, but his statement did not specifically mention the Kurds. And he said Turkey has also promised to hold the line on ISIS.

"Turkey is now responsible for ensuring all ISIS fighters being held captive remain in prison and that ISIS does not reconstitute in any way, shape or form," Trump stated.

Just before Turkey launched its attack, there were reports of ISIS attacks against Kurdish forces in the northern Syrian city of Raqqa, which was previously the de facto capital of ISIS' so-called caliphate.

The Turkish military is working with the Syrian National Army, Erdogan said, adding that they are targeting Kurdish fighters as well as ISIS extremists...

A U.S. military official in Syria tells Bowman that the Turkish airstrikes are "more expansive than shaping a limited incursion."

The U.S. is tracking people who are being displaced from the Syrian cities of Ras al-Ayn, Tal Abyad, Qamishli and Ain Issa, the official says, reflecting a span of some 140 miles along the north and northeastern border...

U.S. forces in this area of Syria have assisted Kurdish allies with keeping ISIS fighters detained. And there are concerns about what will happen to those ISIS fighters now that the U.S. is stepping back.

"The Kurdish forces have always been clear that their number one concern is not ISIS but is protecting their territory from Turkey,"

[DoughtyOne]

I never claimed they were just like us.

I did claim that they were allies to us in recent history, and if we want allies again, we need to show that we have their back after they’ve had ours.

Who will want to be our ally if we act the part of a female Praying Mantis after we have relations with a group that benefits us both?

Is the Kurd region run exactly like I’d like? Is it even realistic to think it would be?

If the Kurds ran their nation like we run ours, they’d probably be attacked by terrorists non-stop.

I’m not here to put down your take on the Kurds on a political basis, but that socialist group fought with us.

I’d also like to ask you what type of nation you think you live in, if you don’t think there’s quite a bit of socialism going on here as well.

We have a corrupted government that is sinking fast.

While I sill think there is value here, we’re in a serious world of hurt when it comes to big portions of our government these days.

The redistribution of wealth has become obscene.

Trying to put the Kurds down based on their flaws, is finger pointing we can scarcely pass ourselves these days.