Trump betrayed us: Kurds plead with US soldiers as they pull out of Syria

Latest news
  • Kurds in northern Syria took to the streets Sunday, begging US soldiers to stay
  • Some 700 American troops retreated from the largest US military base in the region over the weekend under orders from President Donald Trump
  • The controversial pullout leaves Kurdish allies who have fought against ISIS alongside US soldiers for years vulnerable to attacks from Turkey
  • It comes as Turkey ramps up its offensive that has killed 114 civilians and displaced 300,000 since October 9
  • Videos shared on social media showed protesters attempting to block a 70-strong military convoy through Tal Tamr
  • One protester’s sign read: ‘Thanks for US people but Trump betrayed us’
  • A US Special Forces soldier showed solidarity for Kurdish fighters by wearing a YPJ patch – a symbol of the Syrian Kurdish Women’s Protection Units
  • The patches were banned by officials in 2016 after they inflamed tensions between the US and Turkey
  • The Kurdish YPJ militia, a key American ally against the Islamic State in Syria, is considered a terrorist group by the Turkish government
  • A senior White House official indicated on Sunday that Trump is considering a Pentagon plan to keep some 200 troops in eastern Syria
  • If approved, the move would mark the second time in 10 months that Trump has reversed his order to pull troops out of Syria

Kurds in northern Syria have taken to the streets to plead with US soldiers pulling out of the war-torn region and leaving hundreds of thousands of people vulnerable to attacks by Turkey – as White House officials say President Donald Trump is considering a Pentagon plan that would keep some 200 troops in the area.

Some 700 American troops retreated from the largest US military base in the region over the weekend under orders from Trump.

The controversial pullout comes as Turkey ramps up its offensive on Kurdish allies who have fought against ISIS alongside US forces for years.

Since the offensive began on October 9, at least 114 civilians have been killed and some 300,000 people have been displaced.

A video by the Kurdish news agency posted Monday shows a convoy of armored vehicles driving through Qamishli and residents hurling abuse and potatoes at the soldiers as they withdrew.

Angry residents hurled potatoes at the vehicles, shouting ‘No America’ and ‘America liar,’ in English. One vehicle backed up over the sidewalk, trying to get away from the people.

Videos shared on social media also showed protesters attempting to block a 70-strong military convoy through Tal Tamr.

‘Thanks for US people but Trump betrayed us,’ one protester’s sign read.

‘To the US army who are leaving northeast Syria: Tell your children that the children of the Kurds were killed by the Turks and we did nothing to protect them,’ another read.

One US Special Forces soldier made an apparent show of solidarity for Kurdish fighters by wearing a bright green patch bearing the letters YPJ – a symbol of the Syrian Kurdish Women’s Protection Units.

The patches were banned by officials in 2016 after they inflamed tensions between the US and Turkey because the Kurdish YPJ militia, a key American ally against the Islamic State in Syria, is considered a terrorist group by the Turkish government.

Widespread outrage over the pullout appears to have caught Trump’s attention as a senior White House official indicated on Sunday that the president may take a U-turn and keep troops in eastern Syria.