U.S. Spies Say Turkish-Backed Militias Are Killing Civilians as They Clear Kurdish Areas in Syria
Share
[aggregation-styles]
Time
Time
Three weeks after President Donald Trump ordered U.S. forces to pull out of northern Syria, American spy agencies are seeing disturbing intelligence. Turkish-backed militias, armed by Ankara, have killed civilians in areas abandoned by the U.S., four U.S. military and intelligence officials tell TIME. The officials say they fear that the militias committing those potential war crimes may be using weapons that the U.S. sold to Turkey.
These officials say they are concerned that worse could lie ahead. Turkey and its allies are deploying larger forces and bringing more significant weapons to the field than would be necessary to complete their publicly-stated mission. They have said that they plan only to maintain a security zone along a 18-mile wide ribbon of land south of Turkey’s border with Syria. “They’re far more than the Turks need to conduct the operations they’re supposed to be conducting,” one of the U.S. officials told TIME.
These officials say they are concerned that worse could lie ahead. Turkey and its allies are deploying larger forces and bringing more significant weapons to the field than would be necessary to complete their publicly-stated mission. They have said that they plan only to maintain a security zone along a 18-mile wide ribbon of land south of Turkey’s border with Syria. “They’re far more than the Turks need to conduct the operations they’re supposed to be conducting,” one of the U.S. officials told TIME.
By John Walcott and W.J. Hennigan | 28 Oct 2019
RELATED TOPICS:
Fresno Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years for $4.2 Million Tech Startup Fraud
Courts /
5 hours ago
Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty in Murders of Four Idaho Students, ABC News Reports
Crime /
5 hours ago
Fresno County CHP Arrest Two in Interstate 5 Drug, Gun, and Counterfeit Money Bust
Crime /
6 hours ago
Where Trade Talks Stand With Major US Partners Ahead of Tariffs-Hike Deadline
World /
6 hours ago
DOJ Announces Arrest, Indictments in North Korean IT Worker Scheme
Crime /
6 hours ago
Fresno Man Arrested in Clovis for Sex-Related Crimes Against Minor
Local /
7 hours ago
Clovis Police Seek Public’s Help in Finding Missing 82-Year-Old Woman
The Clovis Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating an at-risk missing adult last seen on Thursday.
Pathmani Goonawarde...
Local /
4 hours ago
Categories
Latest
Videos

Local /
4 hours ago
Clovis Police Seek Public’s Help in Finding Missing 82-Year-Old Woman

Local /
4 hours ago
Fresno Woman Killed in Head-On Collision, CHP Investigating

Politics /
5 hours ago
Musk Vows to Punish Lawmakers Who Back Trump’s Spending Bill

Courts /
5 hours ago
Fresno Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years for $4.2 Million Tech Startup Fraud

Crime /
5 hours ago
Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty in Murders of Four Idaho Students, ABC News Reports

Crime /
6 hours ago