Esper Tells Turks to Call Off Syria Invasion, Work with US to Restore Peace

Defense Secretary Mark Esper has called on Turkey to cease attacks in northeastern Syria, pull back its forces and work with the U.S. and NATO allies to restore peace to the region.

In a phone call Thursday to his Turkish counterpart, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, Esper urged Turkey to halt the airstrikes and ground assaults and "de-escalate the situation before it becomes irreparable," Pentagon chief spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in a statement.

Although U.S. troops in the region have been withdrawn on order of President Donald Trump, Esper said there was still the possibility that "Turkey's actions could harm U.S. personnel in Syria."

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"Secretary Esper made it clear that the United States opposes Turkey's uncoordinated actions as they place at risk the progress made by the Defeat-ISIS Coalition," including the U.S.-backed and mostly-Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces who have borne the brunt of the fighting against the Islamic State, the statement said.

Esper also warned that NATO-ally Turkey risked long-term ties with the U.S. and the alliance.

"While the Secretary reaffirmed we value our strategic bilateral relationship, this incursion risks serious consequences for Turkey," Hoffman said.

Turkey has shown no signs of easing up on the assaults that began Wednesday with airstrikes and surges at several border crossing points. The invasion, international aid groups say, has forced more than 70,000 civilians to flee to the south.

On Friday, Turkey's Defense Ministry said that more than 300 Kurdish fighters had been killed in the invasion.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.

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