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Donald Trump retweets Erdoğan, says 'DEFEAT TERRORISM!'

U.S. President Donald Trump retweeted a post from his Turkish counterpart Erdoğan Friday, proclaiming "DEFEAT TERRORISM!" in response. U.S. leader also added that he had spoken with Erdoğan who told him there had been some "minor" sniper and mortar fire in Northeastern Syria despite a ceasefire, but that it had been quickly eliminated.

Agencies and A News WORLD
Published October 18,2019
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U.S. President Donald Trump retweeted a post from his Turkish counterpart Friday, proclaiming "DEFEAT TERRORISM!" in response.

Trump reposted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's message from Thursday in which he addressed Trump, saying "many more lives will be saved when we defeat terrorism, which is humanity's arch enemy. I am confident that this joint effort will promote peace and stability in our region."

In a separate tweet Trump said he had just spoken with Erdoğan, whom he said told him "there was minor sniper and mortar fire that was quickly eliminated." Trump did not elaborate.

"He told me there was minor sniper and mortar fire that was quickly eliminated. He very much wants the ceasefire, or pause, to work," Trump said in a post on Twitter.

"Likewise, the Kurds want it, and the ultimate solution, to happen," the US president tweeted.

"There is good will on both sides & a really good chance for success," he said.

Turkey and the U.S. came to an agreement Thursday to pause Turkey's anti-terror operation in northern Syria.

Turkey agreed to pause its Operation Peace Spring for 120 hours to allow the withdrawal of terrorist YPG/PKK forces from the planned safe zone.

Erdoğan and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence also agreed on Turkey having 20 miles (32 miles) of safe zone south of the Turkish border in Syria.

Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring on Oct. 9 to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey's borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees and ensure Syria's territorial integrity.

Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates River of the terrorist PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the YPG/PKK.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.

Trump also said that "some" European countries, which he did not name, "are now willing, for the first time, to take the (Daesh) Fighters that came from their nations."

"This is good news, but should have been done after WE captured them," he said.