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"Terrifying and Totally Predictable": Pentagon Confirms United States Forces in Syria Came Under Turkish Artillery Fire by Jessica Corbett!
(2019-10-12 at 11:04:00 )
"Terrifying and Totally Predictable": Pentagon Confirms United States Forces in Syria Came Under Turkish Artillery Fire by Jessica Corbett
Noting Turkeys claims that this was a mistake, the United States peace group CodePink declared that "this is what happens when a country goes into a war of expansion so callously and rapidly."
As tens of thousands of civilians flee northeast Syria amid Turkeys ongoing offensive targeting Kurdish forces in the region-an operation enabled by United States President Donald Trump-the Pentagon confirmed late Friday that "United States troops in the vicinity of Kobani came under artillery fire from Turkish positions."
Newsweek initially reported Friday afternoon, citing both an Iraqi Kurdish intelligence official and a senior Pentagon official, that United States Special Forces "operating on Mashtenour hill in the majority-Kurdish city of Kobani fell under artillery fire from Turkish forces conducting their so-called -Operation Peace Spring- against Kurdish fighters backed by the United States but considered terrorist organizations by Turkey."
According to the unnamed Pentagon official, "shelling by the Turkish forces was so heavy that the United States personnel considered firing back in self-defense." However, "instead of returning fire, the Special Forces withdrew once the shelling had ceased."
Jesus, this is terrifying and totally predictable.
Following Newsweeks report, a Pentagon spokesperson, Navy Captain Brook DeWalt, said in a statement that "the explosion occurred within a few hundred meters of a location outside the Security Mechanism zone and in an area known by the Turks to have United States forces present."
Despite the artillery fire, Mr. DeWalt said that all United States troops are accounted for with no injuries and have not withdrawn from Kobani.
"The United States remains opposed to the Turkish military move into Syria and especially objects to Turkish operations outside the Security Mechanism zone and in areas where the Turks know United States forces are present," he added. "The United States demands that Turkey avoids actions that could result in immediate defensive action."
The Pentagons official remarks contrasted with a statement from the Turkish Defense Ministry on Friday. According to Newsweek:
The ministry affirmed that "Turkish border outposts south of Suruc came under Dochka and mortar fire from the hills located approximately 1,000 meters southwest of a United States observation post."
"In self-defense, reciprocal fire was opened on the terrorist positions of the attack. Turkey did not open fire at the United States observation post in any way," the statement added. "All precautions were taken prior to opening fire in order to prevent any harm to the United States base. As a precaution, we ceased fire upon receiving information from the United States We firmly reject the claim that United States or coalition forces were fired upon."
Linking to Newsweeks report, the United States peace advocacy group CodePink challenged Turkeys statement, tweeting: "They say this was a mistake. We say this is what happens when a country goes into a war of expansion so callously and rapidly."
United States and coalition officials cast doubt on Turkeys claims in comments to journalists:
Coalition officials say the Turkish account of the firing at Kobane does not reflect what happened. The shells were bracketed - landing around the base either with a view to a direct hit or to intimidate. They were a few 100 meters away, not a kilometer, they say.
-Liz Sly October 11, 2019
Coalition official tells me after Turkish bombing near United States base Mashtenour hill: "They know we are there, we told them our position. There is no other target in the area. They are trying to drive us out. If Turkey can get us to leave so they can seige Kobane, it is all over."-Josie Ensor October 11, 2019
"One United States official told CNN the United States does not believe the Turkish shelling near United States troops posted near Kobani was an accident and that it was likely designed to chase the United States from the area," the news outlet reported, noting that "the United States has previously announced that it gave Turkey "explicit grid coordinate detail" of United States positions in Syria."
CNN also highlighted comments on Twitter from Brett McGurk, the former presidential envoy to the global coalition to counter the Islamic State (ISIS) who is now a foreign affairs analyst for NBC News and MSNBC.
-Turkish forces have fired on a declared United States military outpost in northern Syria. Turkey knows all of our locations down to the precise grid coordinate as confirmed by SECDEF and CJCS only two hours ago. This was not a mistake.-Brett McGurk October 11, 2019
Turkey launched airstrikes and ground incursions targeting Kurdish forces along the Turkey-Syria border on Wednesday after Trump announced Sunday-following a call with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan-that United States troops "will no longer be in the immediate area." President Trumps announcement was widely decried by United States of American lawmakers across the political spectrum as well as humanitarians the world over.
Critics accused President Trump of abandoning the United States Kurdish allies who helped defeat ISIS in the region. By standing aside and allowing Turkeys operation to move forward, "the Americans," said one Kurdish official, "have abandoned us to a Turkish massacre."
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)-a coalition of Kurds, Arabs, and Turkmen, led by the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG)-guard about 11,000 ISIS detainees in facilities throughout northern Syria. An SDF spokesperson said Friday that five ISIS prisoners escaped a facility in Qamishli city, renewing fears about a resurgence of the terrorist group because of Turkeys operation.
A humanitarian group in the region reported that as of Thursday, at least 11 people have been killed by the Turkish bombing campaign. Turkeys defense officials claimed that as of Friday, their forces have killed 277 Kurdish fighters and had advanced five miles into parts of Syria.
United States Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Friday that Turkey would risk "serious consequences" if it does not cease its attacks and-while announcing that President Trump will sign an executive order giving his administration broad authority to hit the country with sanctions-United States Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin claimed that "we can shut down the Turkish economy if we need to." However, beyond such threats, the Donald Trump administration has not yet taken any public and formal actions to curtail or end the Turkish offensive.
Reprinted here from "Common Dreams" has been providing breaking news & views for the progressive community since 1997. We are independent, non-profit, advertising-free and 100% reader supported.