Trump condemns attack on Turkish troops in discussion with Erdoğan

President Trump spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday and condemned the attack that killed dozens of Turkish troops in Syria on Thursday.

“President Trump expressed his condolences and condemned yesterday’s attack that killed Turkish personnel in Syria,” White House deputy press secretary Judd Deere said in a statement.

“President Trump reaffirmed his support for Turkey’s efforts to de-escalate the situation in northwest Syria and avoid a humanitarian catastrophe. The two leaders agreed that the Syrian regime, Russia, and the Iranian regime must halt their offensive before more innocent civilians are killed and displaced,” Deere said.

Thirty-three Turkish soldiers were killed in the strike Thursday that the country has blamed on Syria. The developments have increased tensions in the region.

NATO leaders met on Friday to address the developments.

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg condemned the “indiscriminate air strikes by the Syrian regime and Russia” and called on Russian-backed Syrian forces to halt their offensive in Idlib, the last remaining territory held by Turkish-backed rebels in Syria.