- Title: Turkey says Syria attack plans complete, rocket launchers positioned at border
- Date: 8th October 2019
- Summary: SURUC, TURKEY (OCTOBER 8, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF TURKISH ROCKET LAUNCHERS DEPLOYED ON SYRIA BORDER SOLDIER SITTING OUTSIDE MILITARY BARRACK VARIOUS OF TURKISH SOLDIERS MILLING AROUND OUTSIDE MILITARY BARRACK MILITARY VEHICLE PARKED AT SITE SOLDIER AT SITE VARIOUS OF AIR DEFENCE SYSTEM DEPLOYED ON BORDER VARIOUS OF TURKISH ARTILLERIES ON BORDER
- Embargoed: 22nd October 2019 11:10
- Keywords: Turkey Syria US military operation Syrian Kurdish militia YPG Free Syrian army
- Location: SURUC, TURKEY
- City: SURUC, TURKEY
- Country: Turkey
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
- Reuters ID: LVA001B08KJLZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Turkey said on Tuesday (October 8) it had completed preparations for a military operation in northeast Syria after the United States began pulling back troops, opening the way for a Turkish attack on Kurdish-led forces long allied to Washington.
A Reuters witness said there was no sign of military activity on Tuesday near the Turkish border town of Akcakale, across from Syria's Tel Abyad. Howitzers were positioned in Akcakale behind earth embankments in on the Turkish side of the border, pointed towards Syria as rocket launchers and artillery were deployed to bases in another border town, Suruc.
U.S. President Donald Trump warned he would "obliterate" the NATO ally's economy if it took action in Syria that he considered "off limits" following his decision on Sunday (October 6) to pull 50 American special forces troops from the border region.
The U.S. move will leave its Kurdish-led partner forces in Syria vulnerable to an incursion by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), which brands them terrorists because of their links to Kurdish militants who have waged a long insurgency in Turkey.
(Production: Mert Ozkan, Omer Berberoglu) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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