Turkse troepen zijn de autonome regio Rojava binnengevallen. Op internet circuleren diverse berichten over bombardementen door de Turkse luchtmacht en in paniek vluchtende burgers. De Turkse president Erdogan heeft de berichten bevestigd:
The Turkish Armed Forces, together with the Syrian National Army, just launched #OperationPeaceSpring against PKK/YPG and Daesh terrorists in northern Syria. Our mission is to prevent the creation of a terror corridor across our southern border, and to bring peace to the area.
— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) October 9, 2019
#OperationPeaceSpring will neutralize terror threats against Turkey and lead to the establishment of a safe zone, facilitating the return of Syrian refugees to their homes.
We will preserve Syria’s territorial integrity and liberate local communities from terrorists.
— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) October 9, 2019
Turkije zegt een 32 kilometer diepe ‘veiligheidszone’ te willen creëren, zodat de ’terroristen’ van de YPG Turkije niet langer kunnen bedreigen.
De invasie werd mogelijk nadat Trump eerder deze week Amerikaanse troepen opdracht gaf zich terug te trekken uit het grensgebied van Rojava met Turkije. Vrijwel iedereen – van links tot rechts – viel over hem heen, maar eerder vandaag gaf Trump op Twitter al zijn critici een omhooggestoken middelvinger:
Fighting between various groups that has been going on for hundreds of years. USA should never have been in Middle East. Moved our 50 soldiers out. Turkey MUST take over captured ISIS fighters that Europe refused to have returned. The stupid endless wars, for us, are ending! https://t.co/Fbcem9i55Z
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2019
The United States has spent EIGHT TRILLION DOLLARS fighting and policing in the Middle East. Thousands of our Great Soldiers have died or been badly wounded. Millions of people have died on the other side. GOING INTO THE MIDDLE EAST IS THE WORST DECISION EVER MADE…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2019
….IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY! We went to war under a false & now disproven premise, WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. There were NONE! Now we are slowly & carefully bringing our great soldiers & military home. Our focus is on the BIG PICTURE! THE USA IS GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2019
Aanvulling: volgens Fox News heeft Trump Amerikaanse eenheden opdracht gegeven niet in te grijpen
The US military has been ordered by President Trump not to help. https://t.co/Fm0J7H9BBJ
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) October 9, 2019
