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Erdogan says Trump positive on Turkish military plan to push east in Syria
Source: Reuters
WORLD NEWS DECEMBER 17, 2018 / 6:18 AM / UPDATED 25 MINUTES AGO
Erdogan says Trump positive on Turkish military plan to push east in Syria
Daren Butler, Phil Stewart
5 MIN READ
ANKARA/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Turkey may start a new military operation in Syria at any moment, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday, touting support from U.S. President Donald Trump even though the Pentagon has issued a stern warning to Ankara.
Last week, the Pentagon said unilateral military action by any party in northeast Syria, where U.S. forces operate, would be unacceptable.
But Erdogan suggested that Trump was more receptive to Turkish plans to move east of the Euphrates river than his own U.S. Department of Defense.
“We officially announced that we will start a military operation to the east of the Euphrates,” Erdogan said in a speech in the central province of Konya. “We discussed this with Mr Trump and he gave a positive response.”
The White House did not respond to requests for comment on Erdogan’s assertion but last Friday acknowledged that Trump and Erdogan spoke about Syria during a telephone conversation.
-snip-
Erdogan says Trump positive on Turkish military plan to push east in Syria
Daren Butler, Phil Stewart
5 MIN READ
ANKARA/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Turkey may start a new military operation in Syria at any moment, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday, touting support from U.S. President Donald Trump even though the Pentagon has issued a stern warning to Ankara.
Last week, the Pentagon said unilateral military action by any party in northeast Syria, where U.S. forces operate, would be unacceptable.
But Erdogan suggested that Trump was more receptive to Turkish plans to move east of the Euphrates river than his own U.S. Department of Defense.
“We officially announced that we will start a military operation to the east of the Euphrates,” Erdogan said in a speech in the central province of Konya. “We discussed this with Mr Trump and he gave a positive response.”
The White House did not respond to requests for comment on Erdogan’s assertion but last Friday acknowledged that Trump and Erdogan spoke about Syria during a telephone conversation.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-turkey/erdogan-says-trump-positive-on-turkish-military-plan-to-push-east-in-syria-idUSKBN1OG16T