BREAKING: Defense Sec. Esper: President Trump has directed 'a deliberate withdrawal of forces from northern Syria,' as the US has learned that Turkey plans to 'expand their attack further south than originally planned and to the west.'
The U.S. previously set down red lines for the Turkish offensive that would trigger economic sanctions, including ethnic cleansing and indiscriminate fire directed at civilian populations.
Some Kurdish guards were forced to leave their posts as fighting neared a camp for displaced people near the town of Ain Eissa, a spokesperson for the U.K.-based observatory told NBC News.NBC News has been unable to independently verify the claim. As they drove forward, video and photographs appearing to show alleged atrocities carried out by Turkish-backed fighters spread on social media.
U.S. allies in Europe sought to step up the pressure on Turkey, with both Germany and France saying they will halt weapons exports to Ankara.
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