Donald Trump imposes sanctions on Turkey as Syrian crisis escalates

International News
Protesting Turkey's military offensive into northeast Syria, US President Donald Trump on Monday announced he will authorise sanctions against Turkish officials, raise steel tariffs and end negotiations on a $100 billion trade deal. Turkey launched a cross-border assault on Kurdish fighters on Wednesday after the US decided to withdraw troops from Syria, a move criticised by the Republicans, with some terming it a "betrayal" of the Kurds.
"This (executive) order will enable the US to impose powerful additional sanctions on those who may be involved in serious human rights abuses, obstructing a ceasefire, preventing displaced persons from returning home, forcibly repatriating refugees or threatening the peace, security or stability in Syria," Trump said in a statement.
Turkey's military offensive is endangering civilians and threatening peace, security and stability in the region, he said, adding that he has been perfectly clear with his Turkish counterpart that his action is precipitating a humanitarian crisis and setting conditions for possible war crimes.
"I'm fully prepared to swiftly destroy Turkey's economy if Turkish leaders continue down this dangerous and destructive path," the president said.
Trump said he will be issuing the executive order authorising imposition of sanctions against current and former officials of Turkey and those contributing to destabilising Syria.The order will authorise a broad range of measures, including financial sanctions, the blocking of property, and barring entry into the US, he said, adding that the US will immediately stop negotiations with Turkey on a $100 billion trade deal.

 Steel tariffs will be increased back up to 50 per cent, the level prior to the reduction in May, Trump said....READ MORE

Erdogan says Turkish-led offensive will go 30-35 km into Syrian territory

International News
Turkey's attack into Syria will extend from Kobani in the west to Hasaka in the east, going some 30-35 km into Syrian domain, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday, and the town of Ras al Ain was at that point under Turkish control.
Tending to a news meeting in Istanbul, Erdogan said the Turkish-drove powers had additionally assaulted the Syrian bordertown of Tel Abyad, west of Ras al Ain, in its battle against the YPG Kurdish state army, which Ankara says is a psychological oppressor association.
"We concentrated first on the 120-km (75-mile) region between Ras al Ain and Tel Abyad. In this way we will isolate the 480-km psychological militant passageway down the center," Erdogan said.
"At that point we will assume responsibility for Hasaka on the one side and Ain al Arab (Kobani) on the other and complete the activity," he stated, alluding to towns either side of the present focal point of tasks. "We will go down to a profundity of around 30-35 km, in accordance with the protected zone map which we proclaimed beforehand."
Erdogan said two Turkish fighters and 16 Turkey-supported Syrian agitators had been slaughtered in the activity.
He included that Turkish-drove powers had slaughtered 440 contenders from the Kurdish-drove Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in which the YPG involves the primary battling component.

 The Turkey-drove powers have so far held onto control of 109 square km (42 square miles), domain including 17 towns around Tel Abyad and four towns around Ras Al Ain, Erdogan said.