* Photo: Screenshot from CBS broadcast
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Responding to the questions of journalists at the White House, US President Donald Trump was also asked, "Are you concerned about escalation, are you concerned that Erdoğan will wipe out the Kurds?".
As reported by CBS News, in response to this question on Turkey's "Operation Peace Spring" launched into northern Syria, Trump said, "I will wipe out its economy if that happens, I have already done it once with Pastor Brunson. I am sure that he - I hope that he will act rationally."
'It is like Israel and Palestinians'
Later in his speech, Trump also touched upon his phone call with President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
President Trump said, "Erdoğan has been telling me for a long time that he wants to enter Syria, 'I want to do it, I want to do it...' It is an issue like Israel and Palestinians..."
CLICK - Turkey Starts Ground Offensive in Northern Syria
He blamed Obama
In response to a question by a reporter "what if ISIS fighters escape and pose a threat elsewhere", Trump answered,
"Well, they are going to be escaping to Europe, that is where they want to go. They want to go back to their homes. But Europe did not want them for months. They could have had trials, they could have done whatever they wanted, but as usual, it is not reciprocal..
"When President Obama took the PKK [Kurdistan Workers Party], that is a tough deal because that has been a mortal enemy of Turkey. And so when you bring them into a partnership, it is a tough situation. (...) They have hated each other for many, many years."
Tweet on ISIS members
Posting a message on ISIS members later in the day, US President Donald Trump also said, "In case the Kurds or Turkey lose control, the United States has already taken the 2 ISIS militants tied to beheadings in Syria, known as the Beetles, out of that country and into a secure location controlled by the U.S. They are the worst of the worst!"
In case the Kurds or Turkey lose control, the United States has already taken the 2 ISIS militants tied to beheadings in Syria, known as the Beetles, out of that country and into a secure location controlled by the U.S. They are the worst of the worst!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 10, 2019
(PT/AS/SD)
