Turkey is to take over the fight against remaining ISIS fighters in Syria, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said, as the fallout from the abrupt US withdrawal from the war-torn country continues.
Mr Trump announced on Wednesday that around 2,000 US troops would leave the country, claiming he had defeated ISIS. It was a shock announcement that experts and diplomats say will have far-reaching implications for both regional and global security, hand power in Syria to Iran and Russia and do little to end the country's seven-year civil war. US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis resigned on Thursday, apparently in protest at Mr Trump's decision.
In a speech in Istanbul on Friday, Mr Erdogan said Turkey would mobilise to fight remaining ISIS forces in Syria and temporarily delay plans to attack Kurdish fighters in the northeast of Syria – shifts both precipitated by the American decision to withdraw.
"Our phone call with President Trump, along with contacts between our diplomats and security officials and statements by the United States, have led us to wait a little longer," he said.
"We have postponed our military operation against the east of the Euphrates river until we see on the ground the result of America's decision to withdraw from Syria."
The step is one that Turkey has long lobbied for, castigating its Nato ally for supporting Kurdish fighters it says pose a national security risk as they fight for Kurdish autonomy on Turkish soil.
The Turkish leader’s statement will be particularly concerning for Syria’s Kurds who have for four years fought on behalf of the US-led coalition to battle ISIS on the ground and reclaim territory seized by the militant group. Ankara views the Kurds as terrorists linked to the Turkey-based Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has long fought an insurgency against the Turkish government and accused it of repression.
Syrian Kurdish leaders have said they could pull fighters from the battle against ISIS and redeploy them to the Turkish border if Ankara is planning a military operation against them.
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Read more:
Trump administration to withdraw 7,000 troops from Afghanistan
Donald Trump: US won't spend lives and dollars as Middle East policeman
Trump says ISIS defeated in Syria as US prepares exit
Political settlement possible after US leaves Syria says Russia
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Ilham Ahmad, one of two co-chairs of the Syrian Democratic Council, the political arm of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), warned that a Turkish attack could bring the battle against the ISIS in Syria to a halt. The SDF is waging the battle for the last pockets of ISIS territory in eastern Syria.
"We will continue our mission but confronting this terrorism will be difficult because our forces will be forced to withdraw from the frontlines in Deir Ezzor to take up positions on the border with Turkey to counter any attack we may face," she said.
She also warned that around 1,000 ISIS fighters are languishing in Kurdish prisons in Syria and any campaign against the Kurds that redrafts their fighters may see them released.
French presidency officials met representatives of the SDF in Paris on Friday and assured them of French support, an Elysee palace official told Reuters.
Officials from the US-backed SDF met with advisers to French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday following US President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw US forces. The SDF officials included Ilham Ahmed and Riad Darrar.
"The advisers passed on a message of support and solidarity and explained to them the talks France had with U.S. authorities to continue the fight against Daesh," the Elysee official said, using an Arabic acronym for ISIS.
There are similar concerns in Afghanistan where Mr Trump has halved Washington’s troop count there, leaving generals worried that the security situation will deteriorate without a strong level of US support for its burgeoning military.
But United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has assured Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi that the US is still committed to fighting ISIS in Iraq and other areas despite its planned withdrawal of troops from Syria, the latter's office said on Saturday.
Mr Abdul Mahdi and Mr Pompeo discussed the withdrawal and Washington's decision to grant Iraq a 90-day extension on a waiver from sanctions against Iran that would allow Baghdad to purchase electricity from Tehran, the Iraqi prime minister's office said in a statement.
The decision by Mr Trump, announced on his personal Twitter account, appeared to come after he had a phone call with Mr Erdogan. The Turkish president reportedly asked Mr Trump to stop his funding and arming of Kurdish fighters to which Mr Trump replied "you know what? It's yours. I'm leaving," according to The Washington Post.
Mr Trump maintained that ISIS had been wiped out, a view not shared by key allies, that Washington had been doing the work of other countries and it was "time for others to finally fight".
His national security advisers tried to block his decision and persuade him to change his mind but last-minute efforts ultimately failed.
In a candid letter to Trump, Mr Mattis, a retired Marine general emphasised the importance of "showing respect" to allies that have voiced surprise and concern about the president's decision.
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Timeline
1947
Ferrari’s road-car company is formed and its first badged car, the 125 S, rolls off the assembly line
1962
250 GTO is unveiled
1969
Fiat becomes a Ferrari shareholder, acquiring 50 per cent of the company
1972
The Fiorano circuit, Ferrari’s racetrack for development and testing, opens
1976
First automatic Ferrari, the 400 Automatic, is made
1987
F40 launched
1988
Enzo Ferrari dies; Fiat expands its stake in the company to 90 per cent
2002
The Enzo model is announced
2010
Ferrari World opens in Abu Dhabi
2011
First four-wheel drive Ferrari, the FF, is unveiled
2013
LaFerrari, the first Ferrari hybrid, arrives
2014
Fiat Chrysler announces the split of Ferrari from the parent company
2015
Ferrari launches on Wall Street
2017
812 Superfast unveiled; Ferrari celebrates its 70th anniversary
Results
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Company%20Profile
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Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Off-roading in the UAE: How to checklist
Company%20Profile
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Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Company Profile
Founders: Tamara Hachem and Yazid Erman
Based: Dubai
Launched: September 2019
Sector: health technology
Stage: seed
Investors: Oman Technology Fund, angel investor and grants from Sharjah's Sheraa and Ma'an Abu Dhabi
The five new places of worship
Church of South Indian Parish
St Andrew's Church Mussaffah branch
St Andrew's Church Al Ain branch
St John's Baptist Church, Ruwais
Church of the Virgin Mary and St Paul the Apostle, Ruwais
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Martin Sabbagh profile
Job: CEO JCDecaux Middle East
In the role: Since January 2015
Lives: In the UAE
Background: M&A, investment banking
Studied: Corporate finance
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if you go
The flights
The closest international airport to the TMB trail is Geneva (just over an hour’s drive from the French ski town of Chamonix where most people start and end the walk). Direct flights from the UAE to Geneva are available with Etihad and Emirates from about Dh2,790 including taxes.
The trek
The Tour du Mont Blanc takes about 10 to 14 days to complete if walked in its entirety, but by using the services of a tour operator such as Raw Travel, a shorter “highlights” version allows you to complete the best of the route in a week, from Dh6,750 per person. The trails are blocked by snow from about late October to early May. Most people walk in July and August, but be warned that trails are often uncomfortably busy at this time and it can be very hot. The prime months are June and September.
Women’s World T20, Asia Qualifier
UAE results
Beat China by 16 runs
Lost to Thailand by 10 wickets
Beat Nepal by five runs
Beat Hong Kong by eight wickets
Beat Malaysia by 34 runs
Standings (P, W, l, NR, points)
1. Thailand 5 4 0 1 9
2. UAE 5 4 1 0 8
3. Nepal 5 2 1 2 6
4. Hong Kong 5 2 2 1 5
5. Malaysia 5 1 4 0 2
6. China 5 0 5 0 0
Final
Thailand v UAE, Monday, 7am
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