Last week, 50 U.S. Special Forces troops withdrew from key locations on the Turkey-Syrian border by order of President Trump. Since the withdrawal of U.S. troops, Kurdish militia forces in the region have faced an intensive assault from Turkish military forces. Turkish President Erdogan wants to subdue the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), claiming he wants to create a safe zone in northern Syria.
On October 13, the removal of another 1000 U.S. troops from northern Syria was announced by U.S. Defense Secretary Mike Esper. As the U.S. is withdrawing from the region, the Syrian forces of Bashar al-Assad are preparing to step in and aid the SDF against Turkish aggression.
Many civilians are caught in the crossfire, including vulnerable Christian communities.
The president of the Syriac National Council of Syria expressed his fears about the Turkish attacks in an interview with NPR.
“We think this is a message to the Kurds and Christians there to leave, so Turkey can move refugees there,” he said, “We think it’s a form of ethnic cleansing.”
The U.S. response to further Turkish incursions in Syria and the treatment of the Kurds could have major implications for future coalition building efforts in other hostile regions and a possible ISIS resurgence.
To the east, at least 35 people are dead and 17 wounded as a major typhoon caused massive flooding in Japan. Tens of thousands of rescue workers have been sent to Honshu and Tokyo, the main areas of flooding.
Japanese media reported that on October 13, the number of homes without power was about 200,000.
“I extend my condolences for all those who lost their lives and offer my sympathy to all those impacted by the typhoon,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, “The government will do everything in its power to cooperate with relevant agencies and operators working to restore services as soon as possible.”
On October 11, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abi Ahmad. His efforts at achieving peaceful relations with Eritrea and internal democratic reforms were cited in his commendation.
Prior to Ahmad’s rise to power, fighting on the border of Eritrea and Ethiopia had resulted in the deaths of nearly 80,000 people. Ahmad now seeks a peaceful resolution to end the conflict.
Ending media censorship, releasing political prisoners, and allowing political dissent are just several of the reforms pursued by Ahmad.
“Today, as the world takes note and celebrates his achievements through bestowing the Nobel Peace Prize,” an official statement from Ahmad’s office read, “We invite all Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia to continue standing on the side of peace.”
A meeting was held on October 13 to discuss recent upheaval in Ecuador between President Lenin Moreno and several leaders of indigenous Ecuadorian indigenous groups.
Ecuadorian police and protestors have clashed, leaving seven dead and hundreds injured over the past two weeks. The protests revolve around a new attempt by the government to privatize the oil industry.
In order to follow an International Monetary Fund directive for an austerity package, oil subsidies were ended. Moreno wants to scale back on Ecuador’s large national debt and to make the country more financially stable.
Advocating for higher taxes for wealthy people and the maintenance of current oil subsidies, the largely indigenous protestors had demonstrated in Arbolito Park in Quito two days prior to the meeting with Moreno.
“The decisions taken by the president of the republic must be positive for you, must be agreed upon with you,” Moreno said, “These conclusions will, of course, be included in the new decree that will replace the previous one, that improves, that perfects it. Everything must be aimed at stabilizing the country, at stabilizing our severely degraded budget situation.”