PodcastTrump praises Turkey for trying to stop 'carnage' in Idlib
As Syrian and Russian forces have intensified their bombardment of targets in Idlib, Trump on Dec. 26 warned Moscow, Damascus and Tehran against killing civilians, while also praising Turkey for its efforts to stop the "carnage." "Russia, Syria, and Iran are killing, or on their way to killing, thousands if innocent civilians in Idlib Province. Don’t do it! Turkey is working hard to stop this carnage," Trump said in a tweet.
Reuters
U.S. President Donald Trump on Dec. 26 warned Russia, Syria and Iran against killing civilians in Syria's Idlib province and said Turkey was working hard to stop the "carnage."
"Russia, Syria, and Iran are killing, or on their way to killing, thousands if innocent civilians in Idlib Province. Don’t do it! Turkey is working hard to stop this carnage," Trump said in a tweet.
Syrian and Russian forces have intensified their bombardment of targets in Idlib, the last significant rebel pocket of Syria. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has vowed to recapture it.
The leaders of Turkey, Russia and Iran agreed in Ankara in September to "de-escalate" conflict in Idlib after a months-long campaign that forced at least 500,000 civilians to flee. With diplomacy on a Syria peace settlement stalled, the de-escalation deal has been unraveling of late.
Turkish Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim Kalin said on Dec. 24 that Russia will work to stop attacks in Idlib after talks with a Turkish delegation in Moscow.
Trump has sought a close relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, even after Ankara's recent incursion against American Kurdish allies in Syria and Turkey's purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense systems.