US senators seek Turkey sanctions, citing military action in Syria

Two US senators introduced bipartisan legislation on Friday that would impose sanctions on Turkey, citing concerns over military action by that country or groups that it backs, in northern Syria.

Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham introduced the “Countering Turkish Aggression Act of 2024” in the hope the sanctions threat would move the parties toward a ceasefire. But they said Washington should work with Turkey diplomatically to facilitate a sustained ceasefire and demilitarized zone between Turkey and Syria.

“These sanctions seek to prevent further Turkish or Turkish-backed attacks on the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which risk the re-emergence of ISIS, threatening the national security of the US and the rest of the globe,” they said in a statement.

Hostilities in northern Syria have escalated since Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad was ousted less than two weeks ago. The United States has brokered a fragile ceasefire in the area between Turkey and Syrian groups it backs, and US-backed Kurdish Syrian fighters.