Turkey tells UN it's acting in self-defense

15/10/2019 1:32

        Turkey is telling the U.N. Security Council that its military offensive into northeast Syria was launched in exercise of its right to self-defense under the U.N. Charter. In a letter to the council circulated Monday, Turkey said it is countering an "imminent terrorist threat" and ensuring the security of its borders from Syrian Kurds, which it calls "terrorists," as well as the Islamic State extremist group. Since 2014, the Kurds have fought alongside the U.S. in defeating the Islamic State in Syria. The fast-deteriorating situation was set in motion last week, when U.S. President Donald Trump ordered American troops in northern Syria to step aside, clearing the way for an attack by Turkey, now in its sixth day. Trump's move was decried at home and abroad as a betrayal of an ally. Turkey's U.N. Ambassador Feridun Sinirlioglu said in the letter to the Security Council dated Oct. 9 that its counter-terrorism operation will be "proportionate, measured and responsible."