National Security Council’s John Kirby said that United States does not want to see any actions that would harm efforts to continue to work with Syrian counterparts against ISIS.
John Kirby launched a press briefing yesterday and spoke about the recent Turkish attacks on North and East Syria (NES) that began on 19 November.
“And we don’t want to see any actions that lead to the potential of additional casualties, particularly civilian casualties. Nor do anything that would harm our efforts to continue to work with our Syrian counterparts against ISIS, which remains a viable, credible threat inside Iraq and Syria,” said Kirby.
“I’d mentioned that we also don’t want to see any actions inside Syria, by Turkey or anyone else, that could put American lives at risk, because there are Americans on the ground, and they’re helping the SDF,” added Kirby.
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan launched a press statement following a cabinet meeting yesterday.
“Our determination to take the borders of our country under a 30-kilometre security strip continues. While taking steps concerning the security of our homeland and our people, we do not take permission from anyone, nor are we held accountable to anyone,” said Erdoğan.
“Turkish officials have complained that Washington and Moscow failed to uphold their ends of the deal,” added Erdoğan.
Many ISIS mercenaries have fled from the al-Hol camp in north and east Syria as a result of Turkish attacks on the region as SDF spokesperson Farhad Shami said the camp is still under the threat of the Turkish reconnaissance aircraft loaded with rockets and hovering over the camp.