President Donald Trump has pulled US troops out of Syria and Iraq in a move that displeased both democrats and republicans. The move has resulted in increased tensions and conflict in the Middle East already and will have large ramifications. The move puts Kurds and other citizens of the areas under protection in danger of attack. ISIS has already gained territory as a result of the move.

The decision has resulted in Turkish forces attacking US allied Kurdish forces. A momentary cease fire was put in place to allow Kurds to evacuate to safety. However the cease fire has since ended and Turkey has continued their assault on the Kurds.

Turkey views the Kurds as a terrorist organization and seeks to dispel them from Turkish and Syrian controlled territory. The Kurdish militia has ties to the Kurdistan Workers Party which has fought Turkey for decades. Turkey sees the Kurdish militia as a security threat and thus plans to expel them even if they’re aiding in defeating ISIS. 

ISIS has began strengthening its position in Syria as the lack of US troops and Turkeys assault on Kurdish forces gave the Islamic State a chance at regaining lost territory. The DIA reported that without a strong counterterrorism pressure, ISIS will be able to freely make plans and will attempt to free ISIS members from Syrian prisons. 

Matthew Miller, a senior at Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School disapproves of the decision. “I think it was a decision made without enough forethought or consultation,” said Miller. Miller believes the move to be irresponsible  and believes that the US military betrayed the Kurds by pulling their troops. “More time should have been taken to discuss possible solutions to the issue rather than making rash and deadly decisions.” 

President Trump believes that this move was long overdue. The president tweeted that “The United States was supposed to be in Syria for 30 days, that was many years ago. We stayed and got deeper and deeper into battle with no aim in sight.” 

The president now wants other countries to deal with ISIS, tweeting “Turkey, Europe, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Russia and the Kurds will now have to figure the situation out, and what they want to do with the captured ISIS fighters in their “neighborhood.” They all hate ISIS, have been enemies for years. We are 7000 miles away and will crush ISIS again if they come anywhere near us!”

In the coming months this situation will play out further and the full repercussions of the decision will be seen. This decision seems as if it will negatively affect Trump’s approval rating and could have further repercussions for him done the line, such as votes during the next election.