US President Donald Trump said on Twitter that he is considering imposing "powerful sanctions on Turkey".
US Secretary of the Treasury Stephen Mnuchin also said the department is prepared to “impose” sanctions immediately if necessary.
Dealing with @LindseyGrahamSC and many members of Congress, including Democrats, about imposing powerful Sanctions on Turkey. Treasury is ready to go, additional legislation may be sought. There is great consensus on this. Turkey has asked that it not be done. Stay tuned!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 13, 2019
The statement comes amid the US preparing to withdraw an approximate 1,000 troops from the northern part of Syria, where a Turkish military operation against Kurdish militants and terrorists is underway, in order for American troops to not end up trapped between opposing forces, since Turkey appears to be extending the initial geography of its offensive, while the Kurds are seeking support from Russia and Syria.
On 9 October, Erdogan announced the start of a military offensive in northern Syria against the Daesh* terrorist group and the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which Ankara designates as terrorists. The air component of the operation began the same day in the town of Ras al-Ain in Al Hasakah province, while the land operation was launched shortly after.
The Turkish operation in northern Syria is part of Ankara's longstanding goal to clear its border area of both Kurdish militants and Daesh terrorists, as well as to create a so-called safe zone along the cleared line. The military offensive has already resulted in civilian deaths on both sides of the border. Damascus views the operation as a violation of Syria's territorial integrity. The offensive has also been condemned by some Western countries.
