Pompeo Says Trump is Fully Prepared to Take Military Action Against Turkey Because of Syria

The president is “fully prepared” to use military force against Ankara if needed because of its operation in Syria, the U.S. Secretary of State said. Washington could use economic and diplomatic measures, Pompeo added. U.S. President Donald Trump is “fully prepared” to use military force against Turkey because of its operation in Syria. The head of state can take this step in the event that such action is needed, said United States Secretary of State Michael Pompeo in an interview with CNBC on Monday, October 21. The head of American diplomacy did not specify exactly what Ankara’s actions could invite a military response. He added that Washington “prefers peace to war”. Pompeo also mentioned economic and diplomatic measures that the US is ready to take. Operation Peace Spring in Syria On October 9, the Turkish army launched Operation Peace Spring in Syria against the Syrian Kurds’ Self-Defense Forces (YPG), which Ankara considers an ally of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) banned in Turkey. Two days earlier, the United States announced the withdrawal of its military from the border areas of Turkey and Syria, thereby opening the way for Ankara’s offensive. A few days later, Turkish ministries of defense and energy were included in the sanctions list of the United States because of Ankara’s operation. In addition, the heads of these departments, as well as head of the Turkish Ministry of Internal Affairs Suleyman Soylu, fell under Washington’s restrictive measures. A five day ceasefire On October 17, Washington and Ankara agreed on a fiveday ceasefire in the Turkish operation. According to U.S. Vice President Michael Pence, the U.S. intends to lift sanctions against Turkey in the event of a long-term ceasefire. Ankara wants to create in the northern regions of Syria along its border a so-called security zone cleared of the self-defense forces of the Syrian Kurds and militants of terrorist groups, and resettle there up to 2 million Syrian refugees who are now in Turkey. DW