Trump says US will hurt Turkey economically if it hits Kurds

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says if Turkey attacks U.S.-backed Kurdish forces in Syria, the United States will “devastate Turkey economically.”

Turkey has threated to attack the United States’ Kurdish allies fighting Islamic State militants. Ankara views them as terrorists with ties to insurgents within Turkey.

In a tweet on Sunday, Trump also warned the Kurdish forces not to “provoke Turkey.”

The president said the U.S. has started what he called the “long, overdue pullout” from Syria while going after IS militants in the remaining territory they hold.

U.S. defense officials say they have begun withdrawing shipments of military equipment, but in coming weeks, the contingent of about 2,000 troops is expected to depart.