US senator urges administration to prevent Turkish incursion into Syria

Destruction caused by Turkish airstrikes on Nov. 20 of a power plant in the countryside of Derik town, northeastern Syria – North Press
Destruction caused by Turkish airstrikes on Nov. 20 of a power plant in the countryside of Derik town, northeastern Syria – North Press

QAMISHLIL, Syria (North Press) – US Senator for Maryland Chris Van Hollen urged on Sunday the Biden Administration to “speak out forcefully” regarding a potential Turkish cross-border military operation in northern Syria, following fierce Turkish airstrikes against the region earlier on the day.

Since Saturday night, Turkey launched dozens of airstrikes and artillery shells against many areas in northern Syria, killing 11 civilians, one fighter of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and 15 soldiers of the Syrian government forces, according to the SDF Media Center.

The senator said the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has already vowed to take military action against the SDF. “Erdogan has been saying for months that Turkey would attack our Syrian Kurdish allies who led the fight against ISIS,” said Van Hollen on his twitter account.

The Senator also said that Erdogan’s intentions have become clear about launching his long-touted military operation against the SDF. “No one should be fooled now that he is doing so.”

Since late May, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced plans to carry out another major military cross-border incursion into northern Syria, specifying his targets in the two northern Syrian cities of Manbij and Tel Rifaat. On July 1, Erdogan said that Ankara’s new military operation in northern Syria could begin at any moment.

Here we go again. Erdogan has been saying for months that #Turkey would attack our Syrian Kurdish allies who led the fight against ISIS (see below). No one should be fooled now that he is doing so. Biden Admin should speak out forcefully.