The pause was so short as events continue to unfold in Syria. Here is a brief summery, including a crucial report by Amnesty on evidence of war crimes committed by the Turkish side.
Headlines
- Amid scattered fighting, Turkey’s Erdogan threatens to restart Syria operation
Report
- Damning evidence of war crimes and other violations by Turkish forces and their allies. Amnesty
Good Read
- Wilayat Al-Hawl: Remaining and incubating the next Islamic State generation. Aaron Zelin
From Twitter
A woman in Al-Hol camp to @AFP:
'Now the Kurds are weak, we hope for the caliphate to be proclaimed again'#Syria #Turkey https://t.co/TdXfNAS6oU pic.twitter.com/cEOBXNwyZN
— AFP Beirut (@AFP_Beirut) October 18, 2019
#BREAKING Macron, Merkel, Johnson to meet Erdogan over Syria offensive: France pic.twitter.com/dgAqsTRKMs
— AFP news agency (@AFP) October 18, 2019
#BREAKING Turkish air strike kills five civilians in NE Syria: monitor @AFP
— Cesur Milusoy (@cesurmilusoy) October 18, 2019
Warning: Erdogan today says his "safe zone" as agreed with Trump stretches 450×32 kms, from the Euphrates to Iraq. This includes all majority Kurdish and Christian areas of Syria. Senior U.S. officials say it is far narrower. Listen to Erdogan, not Trump. https://t.co/dBWNbZ2F7l
— Brett McGurk (@brett_mcgurk) October 18, 2019
This is an obscene and ignorant statement. 200k innocent people displaced. Hundreds dead. Credible reports of war crimes. ISIS prisoners escaping. US evacuating and bombing its own positions or handing them to Russia. Two kids in a lot? https://t.co/rMJVcvOmFI
— Brett McGurk (@brett_mcgurk) October 18, 2019
General Mazloum is concerned about the cease-fire holding and was emphatic that he will never agree to the ethnic cleansing of Kurds that is being proposed in Ankara. (2/4)
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 18, 2019
I hope we can find a win-win situation, but I share General Mazloum’s concerns. I also told him that Congress will stay very involved and is extremely sympathetic to the plight of the Kurds. (4/4)
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 18, 2019
Since the U.S. announced its withdrawal from Syria:
– the Kurds have suffered loss of life and property
– Assad has consolidated his power
– Russia has assumed control of our previous military positionsThe ‘ceasefire’ is far from a victory. pic.twitter.com/jjo7nLJSm0
— Senator Mitt Romney (@SenatorRomney) October 18, 2019
So wrong. So sad. Kurds fought side by side with us against ISIS. They lost 11,000 fighters. They are not children. They do not deserve this ridicule. https://t.co/YU4wjgfrXZ
— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) October 18, 2019
#BREAKING A senior defense official says the US will continue to maintain ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) in NE #Syria that will be used to monitor #ISIS prisons.
— Carla Babb (@CarlaBabbVOA) October 18, 2019
Big news if true:
Unconfirmed information about Gen #Mazloum Abdi, commander-in-chief of the #SDF, is soon visiting the United States.
— Omar Abu Layla (@AliAlleile) October 18, 2019
Amazing byproduct of all this is that indeed the #SDF (and by Erdogans own assertion ppk ) are being legitimised by their participation in the process of diplomatic brinkmanship being played out
— Serge Kibalchich (@sergekibalchich) October 17, 2019
‘Military officials said they were stunned that the agreement essentially allowed Turkey to annex a portion of Syria, displace tens of thousands of Kurdish residents and wipe away years of counterterrorism gains against the Islamic State.’https://t.co/kCjm4VbkMg via @NYTimes
— Lindsey Hilsum (@lindseyhilsum) October 18, 2019
1/ #EXCLUSIVE The Syrian photographer/cameraman of a pro-Turkey Syrian group who recently filmed executions in NSyria, traveled in 2015 as a refugee to #Germany where he applied for asylum. He stayed near city of #Halle, in monastery "Kloster Helfta" in town Lutherstadt Eisleben. https://t.co/uXBs1WbJvV pic.twitter.com/WyZfZSoY1F
— Harald Doornbos (@HaraldDoornbos) October 18, 2019
Turkey must be held responsible for war crimes committed against Kurdish civilians. The use of white phosphorus is not only cruel but also strictly prohibited by international law. https://t.co/6eVf4Ne5nm
— Kati Piri (@KatiPiri) October 18, 2019
Breaking: @IlhanMN was one of the only Democrats who refused to support a bill condemning Turkey’s slaughter of the Kurdish people.
Just a reminder for @chrislhayes who said she was one of the “most consistent” when it comes to standing up for human rights in the Middle East. pic.twitter.com/ByrD787oF7
— The Reagan Battalion (@ReaganBattalion) October 17, 2019
Also, reporter claims nobody was allowed into Armenian church after YPG takeover of Tal Abyad (end 2015).
Again nonsense.
I was in it in 2017. Church key was in hand of Armenian caretaker. Armenians used church until last Wednesday, when they fled city due to war.
— Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) October 18, 2019
Reporter also says YPG built prisons in church compound. Wrong again!
These cells were built by ISIS, during ISIS rule of Tel Abyad. ISIS kept prisoners there. I've reported from there myself! ISIS trashed part of this church, used it as HQ and beheaded people in church yard.
— Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) October 18, 2019
The horrific reality is, most of Erdogan’s Syrian fans hate #Kurds and are cheering the potential genocide against them.
Why? They hate Kurdish non-Arabic identity.
Irony is, many Turks hate Syrian’s Arabic-non-Turkish idenity. #KurdsBetrayed https://t.co/RHw5Trjzwn— Nervana Mahmoud (@Nervana_1) October 18, 2019
“We are not guilty of terrorism; we are victims of state terrorism. But we are guilty of defending our people”, said the PKK in its letter addressing to the American people and president.#KurdsBetrayed #TwitterKurds https://t.co/HPN6sWWe9Y
— Nervana Mahmoud (@Nervana_1) October 18, 2019
T#urkey's so-called "Safe Zone" will become a breeding ground and safe haven for terrorism and Jihadists. Erdogan will ethnic cleanse Kurds, resettle 3.6 million people. Turkish "Safe Zone" will become a major threat for especially Europe and the world. Don't let it happen.
— Yerevan Saeed (@YerevanSaeed) October 18, 2019
Nelson Mandela’s Message to #Kurds 1997
“We know what it means to have our nationality and culture insulted. This is what the government of Turkey is doing to the Kurds. I am part of the Kurdish struggle. They use the excuse of terrorism and state security to stop peace.” pic.twitter.com/zG0NhFcukW
— Diliman Abdulkader (@D_abdulkader) October 18, 2019
Nervana 