US Senators introduce bill seeking sanctions on Turkey
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Two prominent US Senators introduced a bill on Friday to impose sanctions on Turkey in response to its ongoing attacks on Kurdish fighters in northern Syria.
"Attacks by Turkish-backed forces on our Syrian Kurdish partners undermine regional security & efforts to prevent an ISIS resurgence," Senator Chris Van Hollen said in a post on X, referring to the Islamic State.
The Democrat Senator added that he and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham on Friday "introduced a bill to impose sanctions on Turkey—which we should enact if they do not accept a ceasefire & demilitarized zone."
The Senators had previously warned on Tuesday that such measures were being prepared.
"We seek a united, inclusive, stable Syria for all Syrians — and supporting our Syrian Kurdish partners is essential to accomplishing that goal," the Democrat Senator said on Friday.
Turkey and Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) militants have prepared to strike the symbolic Kurdish city of Kobane in northern Syria after rebels toppled Bashar al-Assad’s regime earlier this month. They first moved against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) by attacking the northwestern Shahba region, taking Tal Rifaat and Manbij.
The US brokered a four-day ceasefire between the SDF and Turkey last week, which a State Department spokesperson confirmed had been extended through the end of this week.
"Attacks by Turkish-backed forces on our Syrian Kurdish partners undermine regional security & efforts to prevent an ISIS resurgence," Senator Chris Van Hollen said in a post on X, referring to the Islamic State.
The Democrat Senator added that he and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham on Friday "introduced a bill to impose sanctions on Turkey—which we should enact if they do not accept a ceasefire & demilitarized zone."
The Senators had previously warned on Tuesday that such measures were being prepared.
"We seek a united, inclusive, stable Syria for all Syrians — and supporting our Syrian Kurdish partners is essential to accomplishing that goal," the Democrat Senator said on Friday.
Turkey and Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) militants have prepared to strike the symbolic Kurdish city of Kobane in northern Syria after rebels toppled Bashar al-Assad’s regime earlier this month. They first moved against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) by attacking the northwestern Shahba region, taking Tal Rifaat and Manbij.
The US brokered a four-day ceasefire between the SDF and Turkey last week, which a State Department spokesperson confirmed had been extended through the end of this week.