Congressman Darin LaHood recently weighed in on the ongoing Syria-Turkey conflict yesterday. LaHood voted in favor of House Resolution 4695 or the Protect Against Conflict by Turkey Act. The legislation is slated to expand sanctions against Turkey in response to military incursions into Northeastern Syria against Kurdish forces.
LaHood said that Turkey should face consequences for attacking the U.S.’s Kurdish allies who have helped in the fight against the terrorist organization ISIS. LaHood believes it will threaten stability in the Middle East and give more influence to hostile nations like Iran and Russia to spread their influence.
The sanctions are set to be put in place if the Turkish government fails to uphold the ceasefire agreement negotiated by Vice President Mike Pence late last week. LaHood spoke several weeks ago in opposition to the Trump administrations unilateral pull out from Syria saying that it would endanger the Kurds and help spread the influence of ISIS in the region once again. President Donald Trump has since said a small coalition of forces will remain behind in Syria to protect oil wells and give aid to civilians. Full military operations are still in a state of limbo this week.