BEIJING – China said on Thursday that Syria’s sovereignty and territorialintegrity “must be respected” after Turkish forces launched a militaryoperation into Kurdish-controlled areas in the country’s northeast.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed on Wednesday abombardment on the region that sent thousands of civilians fleeing theirhomes.
The assault followed US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a militarypullback from the Turkey-Syria border — a decision that prompted fury fromUS lawmakers, who warned withdrawing US troops could reverse gains againstthe militant Islamic State group.
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Erdogan links the Kurdish fighters to separatist militants at home andbrands them “terrorists,” with US troops effectively serving as a buffer inthe region before the announcement of their withdrawal.
