'Trump Betrayed Us': Kurds Send Message as US Troops Depart

A convoy of US military vehicles was confronted by people carrying placards while traveling through Qamishli, near Syria’s border with Turkey, during the early morning of October 21.

Standing in front of US military vehicles, residents held aloft signs addressed to “the US Army who are leaving northeast Syria”. One sign read, “Tell your children that the children of the Kurds were killed by the Turks, and we did nothing to protect them.” Another thanked US troops, but added “Trump betrayed us”.

The incident came after US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said troops pulling out of the region would head to western Iraq to continue the fight against Islamic State.

Hours later, a correspondent for the ABC reported seeing US armoured vehicles pelted with stones and rotten fruit, while local news outlet Hawar (ANHA) shared video of civilians holding up images of dead Kurdish fighters while congregating around the vehicles. Credit: North Press Agency via Storyful