Turkey’s strikes spark fresh concern over F-16 sale

Turkey’s deadly airstrikes over northern regions of Syria and Iraq, targeting Kurdish groups that Ankara holds responsible for a November 13 bomb attack in Istanbul, have sparked fresh concern in the United States over the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets to Ankara.

“Here we go again. [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan has been saying for months that Turkey would attack our Syrian Kurdish allies who led the fight against ISIS. No one should be fooled now that he is doing so. Biden Administration should speak out forcefully,” Democratic US Senator Chris Van Hollen tweeted Sunday.

Here we go again. Erdogan has been saying for months that #Turkey would attack our Syrian Kurdish allies who led the fight against ISIS (see below). No one should be fooled now that he is doing so. Biden Admin should speak out forcefully. https://t.co/R9PhosHUkJ

— Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) November 20, 2022

Meanwhile, US Representative Frank Pallone said that Turkey’s bombing of a paediatric hospital being built near the Syrian city of Kobani demonstrated why Washington must not reinforce Ankara’s combat air capability.

“Erdogan bombed civilian infrastructure, including a hospital. This is yet another reason why I am working to block the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey,” Pallone tweeted Sunday. “Erdogan’s pattern of aggression shows that we cannot trust him with US military equipment.”

Erdogan bombed civilian infrastructure, including a hospital. This is yet another reason why I am working to block the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey. Erdogan's pattern of aggression shows that we cannot trust him with U.S. military equipment.https://t.co/rAQc6KqF3D

— Rep. Frank Pallone (@FrankPallone) November 20, 2022