US extends national emergency regarding Syria due to Turkish threats
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – On Thursday, US President, Joe Biden, declared the extension of the national emergency with respect to the situation in Syria, especially Turkish threats to launch a possible operation against northern Syria for one more year.
This came pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States constituted by the situation in and in relation to Syria, according to a briefing by the White House.
“The situation in and in relation to Syria, and in particular the actions by the Government of Turkey to conduct a military offensive into northeast Syria, undermines the campaign to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS,” the briefing read.
It added that any possible Turkish invasion in northeast Syria “endangers civilians and threatens to undermine the peace, security, and stability in the region, and continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.”
“For this reason,” the notice added, “the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13894 of October 14, 2019, must continue in effect beyond October 14, 2022.”
“Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13894 with respect to the situation in and in relation to Syria,” the notice concluded.
On October 14, 2019, US former President Donald Trump issued an executive order imposing sanctions on Turkey for its military operation in Syria.
The sanctions included a number of senior Turkish officials, including both the Ministers of Defense and Energy.
On October 9, 2019, the Turkish forces and their affiliated SNA factions launched a military operation against the city of Tel Abyad in the north of Raqqa and Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain) in the north of Hasakah.
The operation, named “Peace Spring”, led to the occupation of the two cities and their countryside in addition to the displacement of more than 300.000 of the original inhabitants.