Turkish Campaign Against Syrian Kurds Continues
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Americans haven't heard much about the ongoing war in Syria lately, but there’s a new front in the conflict with complicated and high stakes for the U.S.
On Saturday, Turkish jets bombed the city of Afrin, a largely-isolated Kurdish district in northwestern Syria. The air campaign, which was carried out with dozens of jets at the objection of the United States, continued on Sunday with a ground operation.
More than a dozen people are reportedly dead as a result of the clashes. On Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised to follow the assault on Afrin with an assault on the northern town of Manbij. On Monday, Turkish troops advanced in the city.
"We will wipe out this corridor step by step starting from the west," Preisdent Erodgan said over the weekend. "Afrin operation has defecto started in the field. This will be followed by Manbij. Since the promises about Manbij have not been kept so far, no one can say anything when we do what is necessary."
On Monday, the U.N. Security Council called a session to address the Turkish operation, and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson expressed concern about the offensive, urging both sides to show restraint. But with the U.S. torn between its Kurdish allies and its strategic relationship with Turkey, what is the impact on American strategy in Syria?
Sarah El Deeb, an Associated Press correspondent covering Syria and Lebanon, and Ambassador Frederic Hof, a former special adviser for transition in Syria at the U.S. State Department, weigh in. Hof is currently director of the Hariri Center for the Middle East at the Atlantic Council.
This segment is hosted by Todd Zwillich
