Syria

Read recent Syrian news stories and current events on Newser.com

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'Don't Be a Fool,' Trump Said in Strange Letter to Erdogan

'Let's work out a good deal!' he says

(Newser) - A letter from President Trump to his Turkish counterpart surfaced Wednesday—and it was so unusual that many commentators initially had trouble believing it was real. Trump begins the letter to Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which was first obtained by Fox , by saying "Let's work out a good a...

Pelosi: Trump Had 'Meltdown' During Syria Meeting

But House Republicans say it was Pelosi's behavior that was 'unbecoming'

(Newser) - Shortly after the House on Wednesday overwhelmingly voted to condemn President Trump's withdrawal of US forces from Syria, Congressional leaders were at the White House for a meeting with Trump on the matter—a meeting that did not end well. Nancy Pelosi, who said she believed Trump was "...

Turkey Rejects Calls for Syria Ceasefire

Turkish leader says he's 'not concerned' by US sanctions

(Newser) - Russia said it was working to prevent a conflict between advancing Turkish and Syrian government forces on Wednesday, as Turkey's president defied growing pressure and sanctions from Western allies for a ceasefire in northern Syria. Russia moved quickly to further entrench its leadership role in the region after President...

Russian Troops Quickly Move to Fill US Void

Kremlin says units now patrolling in northern Syria

(Newser) - Russia isn't wasting much time getting troops on the ground in the part of Syria vacated by American forces. On Tuesday, the Kremlin announced that Russian troops were on patrol between Syrian and Turkish troops near the northern town of Manbij. The Washington Post and the New York Times ...

ABC Airs Fake Video of Syria Bombing

Trump calls it a 'big scandal'

(Newser) - With the headline "Slaughter in Syria," ABC aired footage of what it said was a Turkish attack on a Syrian border town on Sunday and Monday. One problem: The video was actually of a popular military gun demonstration in Kentucky, Mediaite reports. ABC apologized after the video was...

Trump Authorizes Tariffs, Sanctions on Turkey

As US scrambles for Syria exit

(Newser) - Targeting Turkey's economy, President Trump announced sanctions Monday aimed at restraining the Turks' assault against Kurdish fighters and civilians in Syria—an assault Turkey began after Trump announced he was moving US troops out of the way. Meanwhile, the Americans were scrambling for Syria's exits, a move criticized...

One More Wrinkle in Turkey Chaos: 50 US Nukes

Pentagon reportedly rethinking whether it's still safe to keep them there

(Newser) - The military situation near the Turkish border in Syria remains in flux, with allegiances shifting quickly amid uncertainty of how everything will shake out. But the fast-moving developments also have drawn attention to a lesser-known fact of US foreign policy: The Pentagon has about 50 tactical nuclear weapons stored in...

Kurds Strike Last-Minute Deal to Avoid 'Genocide'

Syria agrees to protect Kurds from invading Turkish forces

(Newser) - This might be a last-minute, desperation deal—but now Syrian Kurds have some protection. They said Sunday the Syrian government has agreed to send army forces to the nation's northern border to try to curb Turkey's assault, the BBC reports. Russia brokered the deal over three days between...

ISIS Backers Escape Camp in Northern Syria

Military situation is 'deteriorating rapidly,' American official says

(Newser) - Hundreds of Islamic State supporters escaped from a holding camp in northern Syria on Sunday amid heavy clashes between invading Turkish-led forces and Kurdish fighters. A US military official said the situation was "deteriorating rapidly," the AP reports. The official, who was not authorized to disclose operational details...

SecDef: US Troops Caught Between Advancing Armies

Esper says US 'preparing to evacuate' troops from Syrian north

(Newser) - Amid growing chaos in Syria, the US is "preparing to evacuate" and President Trump has ordered all US troops to withdraw from the country's north to avoid a conflict between Turkey and Kurdish fighters, Defense Secretary Mark Esper told CBS' Face the Nation on Sunday. The approximately 1,...

Trump: I&#39;m an &#39;Island of One&#39; on Syria
Trump: I'm an 'Island of One' 
Oct 13, 2019 6:21 AM CDT

Trump: I'm an 'Island of One'

Says US cannot fight 'endless wars,' defends decision to get out of Syria

(Newser) - President Trump said Saturday that he is an "island of one" for removing US forces from northeastern Syria. But the AP reports that he remained steadfast and defended a move that drew widespread bipartisan criticism that he has endangered stability in the Middle East and risked the lives of...

Turkey Boasts Big Victory in Syria
Turkey Boasts
Big Victory
in Syria
Oct 12, 2019 4:00 PM CDT

Turkey Boasts Big Victory in Syria

As the Arab League condemns 'Turkey's aggression'

(Newser) - Turkey's military said it captured a key Syrian border town under heavy bombardment Saturday in its most significant gain since an offensive against Kurdish fighters began four days ago, with no sign of relenting despite mounting international criticism, the AP reports. Turkish troops entered central Ras al-Ayn, according to...

Pentagon: Turkey Attacked Where It Knew US Troops Were

Meanwhile, a reported ISIS escape and a climbing death toll

(Newser) - As Turkey's push into Syria continues into its fourth day, with further ground and air assaults in the region, news is trickling in on the casualties. Per Reuters , the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that 74 Syrian fighters led by Kurds have died so far, with civilian deaths...

Thousands of 'Betrayed' Kurds Flee Offensive

Turkey says it has lost one soldier and 'neutralized' hundreds of 'terrorists'

(Newser) - More than 60,000 people in northern Syria have fled a Turkish offensive that is now in its third day, aid groups say. Turkish forces pushed further into the region Thursday, carrying out air and ground attacks against Syrian Kurdish fighters, reports Reuters . The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says...

Trump Offers Bizarre Reason for Abandoning Kurdish Allies

'They didn't help us in Normandy,' he says

(Newser) - President Trump angered critics including fellow Republicans with bizarre remarks Wednesday downplaying the importance of the alliance between US and Kurdish forces against ISIS, and of alliances in general. The president defended his decision to allow a Turkish offensive in northern Syria by pointing out that Kurdish fighters did not...

Erdogan Tweets Operation 'Peace Spring' Has Started

As WaPo looks at the prisons holding ISIS militants in the region

(Newser) - And so it begins. The AP reports Turkey's President Erdogan announced in a tweet that the incursion into northern Syria has begun. He said the operation, dubbed "Peace Spring," intends to eliminate "the threat of terror" against his country. The AP reports Turkey has launched airstrikes...

In Tweets, Subtle Shifts From Trump on Turkey
Pat Robertson Has Savage
Response to Trump Move
the rundown
Oct 8, 2019 1:16 PM CDT

Pat Robertson Has Savage Response to Trump Move

President could lose 'mandate of Heaven' if he facilitates the slaughter of the Kurds

(Newser) - President Trump on Tuesday took to Twitter to double down on his claims that he's not siding with Turkey over America's Kurdish allies with his decision to pull a small number of troops from northern Syria, a decision that apparently paves the way for Turkey to attack the...

Trump: I'm 'Not Siding With Anybody' in Syria

Turkey pushes back against threat to 'obliterate' economy

(Newser) - President Trump says he's "not siding with anybody" in the widening gyre of northern Syria—but it's a claim all sides have trouble believing. The president, asked Monday why his government was siding with Turkey instead of America's Kurdish allies, said he was merely sticking to...

Trump&#39;s Syria Decision Seen as Significant Policy Shift
Only 150 Troops Involved,
but Stakes Are Much Bigger
the rundown
Oct 7, 2019 10:55 AM CDT

Only 150 Troops Involved, but Stakes Are Much Bigger

Trump defends a Syrian withdrawal, while critics warn of the dangers

(Newser) - The US isn't withdrawing all of its troops from Syria, but it is withdrawing the 150 or so soldiers stationed at two posts near the Syrian border with Turkey. However, the small numbers involved belie the major foreign policy implications at stake. The move will allow Turkey to stage...

White House: Turkey to Invade Northern Syria

US to pull troops ahead of planned offensive

(Newser) - The White House said Sunday that Turkey will soon invade northern Syria, renewing fears of a slaughter of Kurdish fighters allied with the US in a yearslong campaign against ISIS. For months, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been threatening to launch a military assault on the Kurdish forces in...

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