Pentagon issues warning after Turkish airstrikes threaten American troops in Syria

Fox News

Chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin reports on how the Pentagon has responded to recent airstrikes that threatened the safety of U.S. personnel in Syria on ‘Special Report.’

The Pentagon has urged Turkey to stand down on its plan to invade Syria as the operation could endanger U.S. troops in the country. 

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin offered his condolences to his counterpart Turkish Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar for the loss of life in the Istanbul bombing that occurred last month and prompted military action in Syria. 

But Austin stressed that the airstrikes – and the impending ground invasion of Syria – directly threatens the safety of U.S. personnel working in Syria. 

“Secretary Austin called for de-escalation, and shared the Department’s strong opposition to a new Turkish military operation in Syria,” according to a readout of the call between Austin and Akar. 

Turkey launched a series of airstrikes in northern Syria following the bombing on Nov. 13 that killed six people and injured at least 80 other people. 

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks during a press briefing after a virtual Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at the Pentagon on Nov. 16, 2022, in Arlington, Virginia.  (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Turkish authorities arrested an Arab Syrian woman whom they linked with Kurdish militias, but the militias denied any involvement. 

Turkish President Tayyip Recep Erdogan authorized a military response in Syria, called “Operation Sword-Claw,” which aimed to take out the People’s Defense Units (YPG) and the Kurdistan’s Worker’s Party (PKK).