Turkey's leader vows to widen offensive against Syrian Kurds

ANKARA, Turkey— Turkey’s president on Wednesday vowed to expand Ankara’s operation against Kurdish forces in northern Syria beyond the enclave of Afrin and toward the town of Manbij, which would bring Turkish troops and their Syrian allies closer to U.S. forces supporting the Kurds against the Islamic State group.

President Donald Trump, in a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, warned Turkey against taking steps that could risk military conflict between U.S. and Turkish forces in Syria and urged the Turkish leader to limit the operation and civilian casualties.

The White House said Trump expressed concerns about the growing violence and told Erdogan it jeopardizes shared U.S.-Turkish goals in Syria and expressed concern about “destructive and false rhetoric coming from Turkey.” It did not elaborate on that rhetoric.

Erdogan’s office said the Turkish leader urged Trump in the phone call to halt the U.S. supply of weapons to the Syrian Kurdish militia. He also told Trump that Turkey’s offensive seeks to rid Afrin of “terrorist elements” and protect Turkey’s national security.

A senior U.S. official, speaking earlier, said Washington is concerned that Turkey’s military offensive against Afrin could distract from the fight against IS and be exploited by extremists to re-supply or create safe havens.