USA

Trump Threatens To 'Devastate' Turkish Economy If Kurdish Forces Are Attacked

Mr Trump has previously said so-called Islamic State are "doomed" after claiming the terrorist group had been "defeated" in Syria (Picture: PA).

US President Donald Trump has threatened to "devastate" Turkey's economy if the country attacks Kurdish forces when US troops leave Syria.

America has been working with the Kurdish YPG (People's Protection Units) in the fight against the so-called Islamic State (known as IS and ISIS) terror group – but Turkey regards them as terrorists.

In a tweet, he warned the Kurdish forces not to "provoke Turkey".

"Starting the long overdue pullout from Syria while hitting the little remaining Isis territorial caliphate hard, and from many directions," Mr Trump tweeted.

"Will attack again from existing nearby base if it reforms. Will devastate Turkey economically if they hit Kurds."

The US President's decision came in December to pull troops out, along with a tweet declaring the defeat of IS.

It led to the resignation of US Defense Minister James Mattis and the top US envoy to the anti-IS coalition.

The US withdrawal has begun with shipments of military equipment.

Starting the long overdue pullout from Syria while hitting the little remaining ISIS territorial caliphate hard, and from many directions. Will attack again from existing nearby base if it reforms. Will devastate Turkey economically if they hit Kurds. Create 20 mile safe zone....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 13, 2019

....Likewise, do not want the Kurds to provoke Turkey. Russia, Iran and Syria have been the biggest beneficiaries of the long term U.S. policy of destroying ISIS in Syria - natural enemies. We also benefit but it is now time to bring our troops back home. Stop the ENDLESS WARS!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 13, 2019

Ege Seckin, Middle East security analyst, told Forces News: "The big question is this: whether or not the Kurdish militias in north-east Syria are able to establish and assert some sort of autonomous arrangement in post-war Syria.

"This is certainly what they hope to do but if the US was to completely withdraw and provide them with no deterrents against two powers that seek to eliminate them, Turkey and the Syrian government, it is unclear how they would manage to do that."

Video: Ege Seckin on what a US withdrawal could mean for Kurdish forces.

In the coming weeks, the contingent of about 2,000 US troops is expected to begin its departure even as the White House says it will keep pressure on the IS network.

Senator Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat, called the decision a "betrayal of our Kurdish partners".

Mr Trump has previously expressed his belief that the job to defeat IS is done.

Once the troops are gone, the US will have ended three years of organising, arming, advising and providing air cover for Syrian, Kurdish and Arab fighters in an open-ended campaign devised by the Obama administration to bring a lasting defeat against IS.