Rep. Hill Statement on Turkey's Military Offensive into Syria

Statement

Congressman French Hill (AR-02) released the following statement after Turkey began a military assault into northeast Syria:

"My worst fears are being realized by the standing down of the small group of United States military forces in northeast Syria. Our efforts, along with those of our allies, the local Kurds, have provided increased stability in this critical post-ISIS environment. People were returning to their villages and trying start their lives over. Now those hopes are dashed and that stability is in tatters. While the Turks have a constructive role to play in the dangerous border region, this decision to turn security of northeast Syria over to Turkey is not the proper strategy.

"The invasion by Turkey into northeast Syria is completely unnecessary and withdrawing our troops undermines the ability for the United States to cultivate the trust of allies in future conflicts. This decision only strengthens Iran and Russia's influence in the region and is a death sentence for the Kurds. Yielding to Turkey is geopolitically short-sighted and ultimately hurts U.S. foreign policy interests and global security across the entire Middle East and beyond."

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