President Trump says he will send $50million in emergency financial assistance for Syria as Turkey continues its attacks on Kurdish territory just one week after the president pulled U.S. troops from the area.
The money will be sent to aid human rights groups and other organizations to ‘protect persecuted ethnic and religious minorities and advance human rights,’ according to a statement released Saturday night by the Office of the Press Secretary.
On Sunday, President Trump defended his decision to pull U.S. troops from Northern Syria, leaving the America’s Kurdish allies to a Turkish invasion, calling it ‘very smart’ for the U.S. to ‘not be involved in the intense fighting along the Turkish Border, for a change.’
‘Those that mistakenly got us into the Middle East Wars are still pushing to fight.They have no idea what a bad decision they have made. Why are they not asking for a Declaration of War?’ he added.
This comes as nearly 800 women affiliated with ISIS and their children fled from a camp where they were being held in northern Syria after shelling by Turkish forces in a five-day-old offensive, the region’s Kurdish-led administration said Sunday.
President Trump announced Saturday night that he will send $50million in financial aid to Syria one week after pulling U.S. troops from the area
On Sunday Trump continued to defend his decision to pull U.S. troops from Syria, writing: ‘Very smart not to be involved in the intense fighting along the Turkish Border, for a change’
The Kurdish-led administration said 785 foreigners affiliated with ISIS escaped Ain Issa (pictured), north of Raqqa, where they were being held following Turkish shelling today
Trump spoke of the $50million in aid while at the Values Voters Summit’s Faith, family and Freedom gala dinner Saturday night.
‘Other presidents would not be doing that, they’d be spending a lot more money but on things that wouldn’t make you happy,’ he said. ‘The U.S. condemns the persecution of Christians and we pledge our support to Christians all over.’
The statement by the Office of the Press Secretary reads: ‘We hope regional and international partners will continue their contributions as well,’ the statement continues. ‘Ensuring the freedom and safety of ethnic and religious minorities remains a top priority for this Administration.’
‘It will also go toward increased accountability, removal of explosive remnants of war, community security for stabilization assistance, documenting human rights abuses and international humanitarian law violations, and support for survivors of gender-based violence and torture,’ the statement continued.
President Trump continued to double down on his decision to abandon the Kurds.
Do you remember two years ago when Iraq was going to fight the Kurds in a different part of Syria. Many people wanted us to fight with the Kurds against Iraq, who we just fought for. I said no, and the Kurds left the fight, twice. Now the same thing is happening with Turkey….’ he wrote.
‘The Kurds and Turkey have been fighting for many years. Turkey considers the PKK the worst terrorists of all. Others may want to come in and fight for one side or the other. Let them! We are monitoring the situation closely. Endless Wars!’
President Trump continued to double down on his decision to abandon the Kurds
Ankara launched the cross-border assault against the YPG militia after US President Donald Trump withdrew troops from the border region. Pictured: Map shows Tel Abyad and Ras al Ain (Sari Kani) near Raqqa
On Sunday the Kurdish-led administration said in a statement that 785 IS-affiliated foreigners had fled the camp at Ain Issa.
In apparent reference to Turkish-backed rebels, the Kurdish-led administration said ‘mercenaries’ attacked the camp where ‘Daesh elements’ – a reference to Islamic State – in turn attacked camp guards and opened the gates.
Images shared by the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights appear to picture people running away from the Ain Issa.
Turkey’s cross-border attack in northern Syria against Kurdish forces widened to target the town of Suluk which was hit by Ankara’s Syrian rebel allies. There were conflicting accounts on the outcome of the fighting.
On Sunday, Turkey targeted two border towns with shelling, continuing with the fight against Kurdish militia
Turkey is facing threats of possible sanctions from the US unless it calls off the incursion. Two of its NATO allies, Germany and France, have said they are halting weapons exports to Turkey. The Arab League has denounced the operation.
France also said today it was ‘worried’ to hear of the report that hundreds of relatives of foreign jihadists had escaped.
‘Of course we are worried about what could happen and that is why we want Turkey… to end as quickly as possible the intervention it has begun,’ government spokeswoman Sibeth Ndiaye told France 3 television.