The White House said Tuesday that Turkey has the “right to defend themselves” from Kurdish militant groups in northern Syria and Iraq following massive Turkish airstrikes in the region.
“Turkey does continue to suffer a legitimate terrorist threat, particularly to their south. They certainly have every right to defend themselves and their citizens,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.
Turkey launched the strikes in response to a bombing in Istanbul that killed six people, which it blamed on the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) and its Syrian affiliates, including the US-backed SDF. The operations killed members of the SDF, and they reportedly responded by firing rockets into a Turkish district near the Syrian border.
Kirby’s only warning was that the Turkish assault could impact US and SDF operations against ISIS. He said the Turkish operation “might force a reaction by some of our SDF partners that would limit and constrain their ability to fight against ISIS…and we want to be able to keep the pressure on ISIS.”
The statement from Kirby marks a shift in the US approach to Turkey’s operations against Kurds in Syria. The US typically condemns them but is not doing so now, likely because it wants Turkey to approve Sweden and Finland’s NATO bids.
The State Department issued a short statement on the fighting between the two US allies on Monday that called for de-escalation. “We urge de-escalation in Syria to protect civilian life and support the common goal of defeating ISIS. We continue to oppose any uncoordinated military action in Iraq that violates Iraq’s sovereignty,” said State Department spokesman Ned Price.
Ukrainian Nazi’s = freedom fighters
Kurds = terrorists
The Kurds’ division into 4 countries where they are all oppressed minorities instead of getting their own state is another legacy of British colonialism – and drawing random lines on maps that make no sense.
dividing up sovereign nations into small easy to oppress states is right out of the New World Order 101 handbook
“’We urge de-escalation in Syria to protect civilian life….’ said State Department spokesman Ned Price.” In other words, we want them to die from starvation–not Turkish bombing. (Sarcasm)
My beige house tells the white house of course they do, but who asked you and who made this edifice the speaker and policeman of the world. My beige house f—–d the white house in the a–.
“Turkey does continue to suffer a legitimate terrorist threat, particularly to their south. They certainly have every right to defend themselves and their citizens,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.
Does he think that when Israel bombs Syria or does terroristic acts in Iran?
Wars, don’t the Syrians know that they’re living on someone else’s land, Greater Israel, from the Nile to the Euphrates?
Ok but was the case proven? Did SDF take credit? Or does this just get filed in a long list of claims and counter claims and the truth doesn’t matter. Bigger picture we are selling out the Kurds to keep Turkey on board with NATO expansion
This is like killer cops saying they “felt threatened” right before they shot that 14 year old in the back.
The craven US position is purely based on the Turkish threat to black-ball Sweden and Finland. Turkiye will not be impressed. The US has supported the Kurds when it was convenient and now it drops them like a stone. Will the Ukraine get the same treatment.
Do the Kurds have aright to defend themselves?
Palestine?
Iran?
NK?
Afghanistan https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d3168502a99e3e5aeb9517f56a08e530252ce7345e464ee0ca35bcb6892cd9dc.png ?
Tibet?
China?
Thank you. That never gets old.
How can it get old when its relative literally everyday, and in the foreseeable future?[mores the pity shame disgust…etc]
Typical statement from US on Israel, allies and NATO members Only….! Everyone else Do Not have the right to defend themselves
I missed your comment before I made a similar one. Spot on.
That’s just a ploy to get Turkey to favor Sweden and Finland’s entrance into the NATO. Once that is done, that statement about Turkey’s rights will not be repeated.
Another Turkey pardon.