US President Joe Biden on Thursday extended a national emergency concerning the threat posed by the situation in Syria, and said that Turkey’s actions to conduct a military offensive into northeast Syria undermines the campaign to defeat the Islamic State (ISIS), endangers civilians, and further threatens to undermine the peace, security, and stability in the region.
Biden said:
“The situation in and in relation to Syria, and in particular the actions by the Government of Turkey to conduct a military offensive into northeast Syria, undermines the campaign to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, endangers civilians, and further threatens to undermine the peace, security, and stability in the region, and continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.”
He added:
“For this reason, the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13894 of October 14, 2019, must continue in effect beyond October 14, 2023.”
What had happened?
Following the attack in front of the Ministry of Interior’s General Directorate of Security in Ankara on October 1st, Turkey had claimed the terrorists were individuals who came from Syria. Foreign relations Minister Fidan used the phrase “All facilities owned by PKK/YPG in Iraq and Syria and who come in between are legitimate targets from now on. ” Turkey later initiated attacks on some targets in Iraq and Syria.
The Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MİT) also carried out airstrikes on Northern and Eastern Syria, where its NATO ally, the United States, had troops as part of the anti-ISIS coalition. During the attacks, which included the use of drones (SİHA), various targets in Haseke and Qamişlo, including an electric power plant and oil facilities, were struck. During this operation, a Turkish SİHA was shot down by the United States.