News / Foreign Policy

House Repulicans call for sanctions against Turkey

Friday, 11 October 2019 1:46 AM [ Last Update: Friday, 11 October 2019 4:56 AM ]

US House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney (R-WY) and fellow GOP House leaders hold a news conference following their weekly Republican Conference at the U.S. Capitol June 11, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by AFP)

Republican lawmakers in both chambers of the US Congress have announced plans to impose sanctions against Turkey over its military offensive against the Kurds.

Both Turkey and the Kurds in northern Syria are US allies; however, the two sides express deep animosity towards one another.

To make the situation between the two Washington allies worse, US President Donald Trump green-lighted Turkey's long-due demand for a military offensive against Kurds in northern Syria.

PressTV-Trump abandons ‘costly’ Kurdish militants in Syria

President Trump withdraws Washington’s "costly" support from its long-time Kurdish allies.

Republican US Senator Lindsey Graham blasted Trump on Wednesday for his decision to turn his back on the Kurds.

Graham described Trump's decision as granting Turkey US' permission to invade northern Syria and potentially wipe out US-backed Kurdish fighters.

PressTV-Trump slammed for allowing Turkey to invade Syria

Republican US Senator Lindsey Graham has blasted the administration of President Donald Trump for its decision to allow Turkey to invade northern Syria.

Meanwhile, the US Republican top representative Liz Cheney warned Turkey on Thursday that Ankara should refrain form the attack on the Kurds, saying such an attacs would have serious consequences.

"President (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan and his regime must face serious consequences for mercilessly attacking our Kurdish allies in northern Syria," said Cheney, who is chairperson of the House Republican Conference.

In a similar move, the Iranian Foreign Ministry called on Turkey to "immediately" stop its military campaign in northeastern Syria.

“The dire humanitarian situation and the dangers posed to civilians in the conflict area” call for “the immediate cessation of attacks and the withdrawal of Turkish troops from Syria,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

PressTV-Iran urges Turkey to 'immediately' end offensive in Syria

Iran has called on Turkey to immediately end its military offensive in northeastern Syria and withdraw its forces.

Iran, while realizing Turkey's security concerns, urged mildness in northern Syria,

The foreign ministry condemned Turkey's military campaign in Syria as a deadly offensive that would bring about “widespread human and material damage”.

Tehran has voiced readiness to play the role of a mediator to de-escalate tensions between Turkey and Syria, it said.

The ministry insisted that “peaceful measures and respecting Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity” were the sole way to de-escalation of tensions.

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