Turkey Manipulating US Policies In Northeast Syria, Iraq - Congressman

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th December, 2018) Turkey is exploiting US policy in northeast Syria and Iraq, US Congressman Thomas Garrett said in a press release after returning from a visit to the region.

"Turkey is manipulating US policy by spending millions per month in [Washington] DC to buy influence," Garrett said in the release on Monday. "Someone needs to tell the truth here, and the US should stop acting as if [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan is an ally. He is not."

In an evolving development this week, Erdogan threatened to attack US military forces and their allies to expand Turkey's territorial gains, the release said.

Turkish leaders "lie about the pro-freedom multi-ethnic Syrian Democratic Council and suggest the Kurds control regions where I met with the actual leaders, who are not only Kurdish, but also Arab and Christian," Garrett said.

Garrett explained that on his visit to the region, he spoke to the Deir A Zour Civil Council only miles from the front lines against the Islamic State terror group (outlawed in Russia) and to the Manbij Military Council, which is the unit directly threatened by Turkey's recent attacks.

Any military actions undertaken by the Turkish armed forces against the Syrian Democratic Forces would unavoidably put US troops in harm's way as both groups were co-located, Garrett added.