Congressman Sires Condemns Reports of Turkish Incursion into Northern Syria

(Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Sires released the following statement following reports that Turkey has begun an incursion into Northern Syria to remove Kurdish forces:

“This week the President made the disastrous and short-sighted decision to abandon our Kurdish- partners to the promise of a Turkish campaign against them. It is undeniable that the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have been our most effective partner in combatting ISIS’ influence and expansion in Syria and this decision will only diminish our credibility around the world, particularly with allies and security partners. Now, reports that Turkey has begun its incursion into Northern Syria leaves our Kurdish allies vulnerable to the possibility of military destruction as Turkey seems intent on eradicating Kurdish influence along the Turkey-Syrian border at whatever cost. These actions are particularly concerning given Turkey’s historical precedent of eliminating minority groups that it perceives as a threat, as it did during the Armenian Genocide. I condemn Turkey’s military offensive against the SDF and believe that is shameful that our allies were left susceptible to Turkish aggression.”

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