US does not want to see Turkish incursion in northwest Syria – White House

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on Wednesday that the US does not want Turkey to materialize its threats of launching a ground operation into northwest Syria.

“We don’t want to see military operations conducted in northwest Syria that are going to put civilians at greater risk than they already are,” Kirby told reporters.

Kirby said the US acknowledges Turkey’s security concerns, but added that mounting ground offensives would not address these threats.

“We recognize the threat that the Turkish people are under, but we don’t believe that … this idea of military operations in northwest Syria is the best way to get at that threat,” he said.

He also noted that the operation would “put in peril our troops and our personnel in Syria, or our counter ISIS [Islamic State] mission.”

On November 20 and the week that followed, Turkey launched a series of airstrikes against many areas extending along the entire border strip with Syria, killing civilians and military personnel and damaging vital infrastructure.

Ankara threatens of launching a cross-border invasion, targeting the cities of Kobani and Manbij, northern Syria, and the town of Tel Rifaat, northwest Syria.