Kurds in US voice anger at Trump's troop pullback | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Wednesday
June 11, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2025
Kurds in US voice anger at Trump's troop pullback

World+Biz

Reuters
12 October, 2019, 12:55 pm
Last modified: 12 October, 2019, 12:57 pm

Related News

  • Trump's travel ban on 12 countries goes into effect
  • Los Angeles police order protesters in downtown to go home
  • Trump says Musk relationship over, warns of 'serious consequences' if he funds Democrats
  • Trump deploys National Guard as Los Angeles protests against immigration agents continue
  • Republicans urge Donald Trump and Elon Musk to end their feud

Kurds in US voice anger at Trump's troop pullback

US President Donald Trump decided to withdraw US troops who had been fighting alongside Kurdish forces against Islamic State militants

Reuters
12 October, 2019, 12:55 pm
Last modified: 12 October, 2019, 12:57 pm
A crowd of over 500 people protest in support of Kurds after the Trump administration changed its policy in Syria, in front of the federal courthouse in Nashville, Tennessee, US October 11, 2019/ Reuters
A crowd of over 500 people protest in support of Kurds after the Trump administration changed its policy in Syria, in front of the federal courthouse in Nashville, Tennessee, US October 11, 2019/ Reuters

Like many Kurds living in the United States, Lava Antar has had a hard time sleeping this week, waking often to check reports of Turkish jets and artillery pounding her northeast Syria homeland and learning her former neighbour's 30-year-old son was killed.

"We feel betrayed, we feel angry," said Antar, a 26-year-old student, during at a meeting to plan a Saturday rally in New York City decrying Turkey's strikes, which sparked international criticism and fears of a humanitarian catastrophe.

Turkey attacked after US President Donald Trump decided to withdraw US troops who had been fighting alongside Kurdish forces against Islamic State militants.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

"We've been helping the US Like, 11,000 people died for this," she said. "Is it because I'm Kurd that I have to be killed?"

The US Census Bureau has estimated there are about 21,000 people of Kurdish ancestry in America. Hundreds on Friday protested in front of the federal courthouse in Nashville, home to the largest US concentration of Kurds.

Kurdish-American demonstrators carried signs with messages including "US protect us. Stand by your word" and "If you don't want refugees, stop creating them." More rallies were planned in the coming days in New York, Washington and Dallas.

Kurds have long played a role in US military action in the Middle East, from the first Gulf War in the early 1990s to the latest fights against Islamic State militants.

"We're not going to just let this go in silence," said Jotyar Hussein, a 34-year-old construction worker that attended the rally with his 5-year-old son. "We stand side-by-side with the US Army and fight the ISIS. They do air, we do the ground. We both do our job. Now this is what the Kurdish people get as a reward?"

"Trump all of a sudden forgot that Kurds were fighting shoulder-and-shoulder with American soldiers," said Tabeer Sindi, 34, secretary of the Tennessee Kurdish Community Council in Nashville and a rally organizer.

"Kurds were the only main force on the ground, the only boots on the ground. We sacrificed thousands of lives."

Sindi, a married father of four boys whose family came from northern Iraq 24 years ago, said his father, Ismail, was a Peshmarga commander killed in a mustard gas attack while fighting Saddam Hussein's forces in 1988.

Even some of Trump's closest allies blasted the move, announced on Sunday. Twenty-nine of his fellow Republicans in the House of Representatives on Thursday said they would announce sanctions against Turkey over the attacks, a day after similar legislation was announced in the Senate.

'Stand By Your Word'

Sindi said people in Nashville's Kurdish community have been getting news from Syria through social media and media outlets but also personal contacts and family members.

"We have a lot of Trump supporters in our community, but even they are mad. They are unhappy about this decision," Sindi said, adding that he also blames Congress and other US allies for allowing the attack to begin.

"Where are all the other countries? The whole world has been silent about this."

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has said the purpose of the assault is to defeat the Kurdish YPG militia which has links to insurgents in Turkey.

Kurdish activists in the United States said they planned to call congressional representatives.

"I hear the senators -- Republican and Democrats -- talking about sanctions, but that that's not going to stop Erdogan," said Shyar Antar, a 24-year-old cousin of Lava Antar, from Qamishli City in northeast Syria, at the same New York meeting.

"President Trump should send back the troops to the border so that Turkey would stop the bombing. But I don't think after what has happened that Trump will go back," Antar said. "So I think right now the only hope is in Congress, try and implement a no fly zone."

Top News

Kurds / syria / Donald Trump

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • File Photo: TBS
    DGHS issues 11-point directive to prevent spread of Covid-19 in Bangladesh
  • Rizvi at a briefing at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office on 11 June. Photo: Collected
    Yunus-Tarique meeting to usher in a fresh breeze for democracy: Rizvi
  • Members of law enforcement work to clear the area, as protests against federal immigration sweeps continue, in downtown Los Angeles, California, US June 10, 2025. Photo: REUTERS
    US cities brace for more protests as parts of Los Angeles placed under curfew

MOST VIEWED

  • Illustration: Duniya Jahan/ TBS
    Forget Katy Perry, here’s Bangladesh’s Ruthba Yasmin shooting for the moon
  • A file photo of Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur. Photo: Collected
    'I have no relation with this': Ahsan Mansur debunks Joy’s allegations over daughter’s Dubai flat
  • Faiz Ahmad Tayeb. Photo: BSS
    Import duty on raw materials for e-bikes, lithium batteries reduced from 80% to 1% in some cases: Faiz Taiyeb
  • Screengrab from video shows a group of local youths forcing tourists to leave a tourist spot in Utmachhra area of Sylhet's Companiganj on Sunday, 8 June 2025, citing allegations of obscene activities and environmental damage
    Locals declare tourist spot in Sylhet 'closed', force visitors to leave
  • Shakil Ahmed. Photo: Collected
    DU student allegedly hangs himself following threats over old derogatory comment about Prophet on Facebook
  • Photo shows the Land Cruiser Prado car belonging to former member of parliament (MP) Anwarul Azim Anar found in Kushtia. Photo: TBS
    Luxury car of ex-AL MP Anar, who was killed in Kolkata, found in Kushtia

Related News

  • Trump's travel ban on 12 countries goes into effect
  • Los Angeles police order protesters in downtown to go home
  • Trump says Musk relationship over, warns of 'serious consequences' if he funds Democrats
  • Trump deploys National Guard as Los Angeles protests against immigration agents continue
  • Republicans urge Donald Trump and Elon Musk to end their feud

Features

Illustration: Duniya Jahan/ TBS

Forget Katy Perry, here’s Bangladesh’s Ruthba Yasmin shooting for the moon

19h | Features
File photo of Eid holidaymakers returning to the capital from their country homes/Rajib Dhar

Dhaka: The city we never want to return to, but always do

2d | Features
Photo collage shows political posters in Bagerhat. Photos: Jannatul Naym Pieal

From Sheikh Dynasty to sibling rivalry: Bagerhat signals a turning tide in local politics

4d | Bangladesh
Illustration: TBS

Unbearable weight of the white coat: The mental health crisis in our medical colleges

6d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Covid-19 testing to resume at hospitals amid rising infections

Covid-19 testing to resume at hospitals amid rising infections

16m | TBS Today
Curfew ordered in downtown Los Angeles after looting and vandalism

Curfew ordered in downtown Los Angeles after looting and vandalism

1h | TBS World
Israel kidnapped me in international waters: Greta Thunberg

Israel kidnapped me in international waters: Greta Thunberg

2h | TBS World
Is the chief adviser's meeting with the British Prime Minister uncertain?

Is the chief adviser's meeting with the British Prime Minister uncertain?

3h | TBS Stories
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net