An incident involving the armed forces of two foreign states, the United States and Turkey, was recorded in the northern territories of Syria. According to the press service of the US Department of Defense, US troops in the area of the city of Kobani came under fire, which was allegedly conducted from Turkish positions.
“The explosion occurred a few hundred meters from a place located outside the range of the security mechanism. Turkey is known to have American forces in the area, ”the Pentagon said.
The department noted that none of the US troops were injured, and they did not retreat from Kobani.
According to the captain of the US Navy and the Pentagon’s military operations press officer Brooke Devolt, the United States continues to oppose Turkish military operations in Syria, in particular in the territories where US troops are located. In addition, Washington demands that Ankara avoid actions that could lead to “immediate defensive actions” in response.
Later, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Armed Forces, Mark Milli and the head of the General Staff of Turkey, Yashar Guler, in a telephone conversation discussed the security situation in Syria and the importance of cooperation between countries in this region.
“The US appreciates strategic bilateral relations with Turkey,” the report said.
- Archival photo. US military
- AFP
- © Delil SOULEIMAN
Meanwhile, Ankara denies that the target of the shelling was US troops. According to the Turkish Ministry of Defense, the artillery of the republic responded to fire from terrorists.
“From the hills located about 1000 meters southwest of the US observation post, mortar fire was fired at our border posts south of Suruch. As part of self-defense, terrorist positions were fired upon. There is no question of shelling a US observation post. Prior to the shooting, all measures were taken so as not to damage the American base, ”the statement explains.
At the same time, the Turkish military stopped shelling after a message from American colleagues.
“Any attack on the American military is completely ruled out,” the defense department of the Islamic Republic stated.
We also draw attention to the fact that earlier the United States authorities reported the withdrawal of their small military contingent from the area in which Turkey launched Operation Source of Peace against terrorists, which include not only the Islamic State, but also various Kurdish paramilitary groups, who have support from Washington.
In an interview with The Tennessean, the US State Department head, Mike Pompeo, emphasized that “less than 60 American soldiers” were deployed 20-30 km from the Turkish military operation zone.
At the same time, in a conversation with the American television station WKRN-TV, he added that the decision of Donald Trump to withdraw US troops was connected with the desire "not to endanger them."
At the same time, Pompeo pointed out that the current White House administration is providing unprecedented support to the Kurds, which makes him feel proud.
“Avoid retaliation”
According to Andrei Manoilo, professor of Moscow State University, doctor of political sciences, the situation is unlikely to significantly change the already negative background of relations between the US and Turkey. At the same time, he called by chance the fact that the US military came under fire from the Turkish military.
“Trump can not stand Erdogan, who, in turn, has a poorly restrained tolerance for the American leader. The shelling may justify sanctions against Turkey. Perhaps Washington will openly deliver a batch of weapons to the Kurds. He will do exactly what Erdogan accused the United States of, ”explained the interlocutor of RT.
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In turn, an expert at the International Institute for Humanitarian and Political Studies Vladimir Bruter believes that, despite the desire of Donald Trump to step aside from the “endless wars” and shift responsibility to Turkey, it is very likely that tension between Washington and Ankara will increase due to possible US sanctions.
“According to the circumstances, Trump will not be able to avoid retaliatory measures against Turkey. In general, the situation will definitely affect the relations between the USA and Turkey. The only question is to what extent, ”the political analyst explained in an interview with RT.
Earlier, US Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin said that the head of the White House would soon sign a decree that would allow the US Treasury to introduce “very significant new sanctions against anyone associated with the Turkish government.”
“I already stated this earlier and simply repeat: if Turkey does something that I, in my great and unsurpassed wisdom, consider unacceptable, I will completely destroy and wipe off the Turkish economy from the face of the Earth (I have already done this before!)” Trump noted October 7th.