WASHINGTON (The White House press service via Ruptly) – U.S. President Donald Trump told journalists in Washington DC on Thursday, that he will “wipe out” Turkey’s economy, if President Recep Tayyip Erdogan tries to “wipe out” the Kurds in northern Syria, as part of the Turkish offensive dubbed Operation Peace Spring.

Earlier on Wednesday, Erdogan announced the beginning of the operation to create a “safe zone” cleared of US-backed Kurdish groups, which Ankara labels “terrorists”. According to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) press office, a total of eight people have been killed and 20 others injured during the strikes in northern Syria.

Trump said:

I will wipe out his economy if that happens. I’ve already done it once with Pastor Brunson. I’m sure that he, I hope that he will act rationally.

[…]

I do agree on sanctions. But I actually think much tougher than sanctions if he doesn’t do it in as humane way as possible. But I’ve gotten him to stop for virtually from the first day that I was in office.

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