Trump Associate Threatens Punitive Measures Against Prominent NATO Country
Senator Lindsey Graham has stated that the United States might consider imposing sanctions on Türkiye in response to the situation in Syria. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has indicated that he may propose sanctions against Türkiye in response to its military actions against the American-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). A staunch supporter of President-elect Donald Trump, Graham contended that significant operations against the SDF could ultimately benefit the terrorist group Islamic State and harm American interests in the region.
Over the weekend, the SDF, primarily composed of Kurdish factions, reported being targeted by Turkish artillery and drone strikes.
On Saturday, the Pan-Arab news channel Al Mayadeen quoted the local SDF command saying that “the Turkish occupation and its mercenaries” were engaged in clashes with Kurdish-led troops in the vicinity of Manbij, located northeast of Aleppo.
Reuters reported on Sunday that the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) had taken control of Manbij, while the SDF retreated. Turkish media indicated that the SNA was conducting operations against the Kurdish militias that are part of the SDF, which Turkey classifies as terrorists.
In a post on X on Sunday, Graham stated that the US “should not allow the Kurdish forces – who helped us destroy ISIS on President Trump’s watch – to be threatened by Turkey or the radical Islamists who have taken over Syria.” He added, “We have to ensure that the roughly 50,000 ISIS prisoners in northeastern Syria – being primarily held by Kurdish forces – are not released.”
He acknowledged Turkey’s legitimate concerns regarding various groups in northeastern Syria but emphasized that “an ISIS jailbreak … would be a nightmare for America.”
While Graham believes Turkey should have a demilitarized buffer zone between northeastern Syria and its borders to safeguard its interests, he warned that any military action against Kurdish forces could significantly endanger American interests.
Graham also noted, “In the past I have drafted sanctions targeting Turkey if they engage in military operations against the Kurdish forces who helped President Trump destroy ISIS. I stand ready to do this again in a bipartisan way.”
The political landscape in Syria shifted notably over the weekend when a coalition of opposition forces, led by the Islamists from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, captured Damascus, resulting in the ousting of President Bashar Assad. This upheaval allowed the SDF to expand its influence in eastern Syria.
Throughout the Syrian civil war, the US has consistently supported the SDF in its battles against both the Syrian government troops and the Islamic State, while refraining from backing the Kurdish forces in northern Syria during their confrontations with the Turkish army amid Ankara’s cross-border “anti-terrorist” operations.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
Over the weekend, the SDF, primarily composed of Kurdish factions, reported being targeted by Turkish artillery and drone strikes.
On Saturday, the Pan-Arab news channel Al Mayadeen quoted the local SDF command saying that “the Turkish occupation and its mercenaries” were engaged in clashes with Kurdish-led troops in the vicinity of Manbij, located northeast of Aleppo.
Reuters reported on Sunday that the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) had taken control of Manbij, while the SDF retreated. Turkish media indicated that the SNA was conducting operations against the Kurdish militias that are part of the SDF, which Turkey classifies as terrorists.
In a post on X on Sunday, Graham stated that the US “should not allow the Kurdish forces – who helped us destroy ISIS on President Trump’s watch – to be threatened by Turkey or the radical Islamists who have taken over Syria.” He added, “We have to ensure that the roughly 50,000 ISIS prisoners in northeastern Syria – being primarily held by Kurdish forces – are not released.”
He acknowledged Turkey’s legitimate concerns regarding various groups in northeastern Syria but emphasized that “an ISIS jailbreak … would be a nightmare for America.”
While Graham believes Turkey should have a demilitarized buffer zone between northeastern Syria and its borders to safeguard its interests, he warned that any military action against Kurdish forces could significantly endanger American interests.
Graham also noted, “In the past I have drafted sanctions targeting Turkey if they engage in military operations against the Kurdish forces who helped President Trump destroy ISIS. I stand ready to do this again in a bipartisan way.”
The political landscape in Syria shifted notably over the weekend when a coalition of opposition forces, led by the Islamists from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, captured Damascus, resulting in the ousting of President Bashar Assad. This upheaval allowed the SDF to expand its influence in eastern Syria.
Throughout the Syrian civil war, the US has consistently supported the SDF in its battles against both the Syrian government troops and the Islamic State, while refraining from backing the Kurdish forces in northern Syria during their confrontations with the Turkish army amid Ankara’s cross-border “anti-terrorist” operations.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
