ADBut even as Trump declared success in Syria, U.S. policy appeared to be in disarray. ADTrump ordered the departure of U.S. troops ahead of a Turkish military offensive targeting the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which Turkey views as a threat to its national security. Also this week, Trump announced an apparent U.S. plan to secure lucrative oil fields in northern and eastern Syria. The Kremlin also said Wednesday that the United States had betrayed and abandoned the Kurds in Syria. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told the state-owned Anadolu News agency, however, that Turkish forces would “clear” any “terrorist remnants” from areas now under Turkish control in northeastern Syria.

Source: Washington Post October 23, 2019 09:41 UTC