Sec. 11. Report on Turkey’s military invasion of northern Syria
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/bill/116/hr/4695/rds/section-11·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
It is the sense of Congress that— the Russian Federation and Iran continue to— exploit a security vacuum in Syria; and pose a threat to vital United States national security interests; and continued Turkish military activity inside Syria will negatively impact the national security interest and regional stability of the United States. Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, and the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on Turkey’s military invasion of northern Syria on October 9, 2019, including the impact of the withdrawal of United States troops from northern Syria.
The Secretary of State shall provide an updated report or briefing to the appropriate congressional committees as circumstances warrant. The report, and any update thereto, required under paragraph
(1)shall include the following elements: A description of the impact of Turkey’s military invasion of northern Syria on the ability of ISIS to reconstitute a physical caliphate. A description of the impact of the invasion on the Russian Federation’s military and political influence in Syria. A description of the impact of the invasion on Iran’s ability to increase its military and political influence in Syria. A comprehensive assessment of the United States Government’s activities to counter Iranian and Russian Federation influence in Syria. An outline of planned joint actions by the Department of State and the Department of Defense, in consultation with the heads of the other appropriate Federal agencies, regarding all stabilization funds or activities for Syria, and an explanation of how such funds and activities can contribute to stabilization in the current environment and without limited United States troop presence in northern Syria. The creation and use by the Government of Turkey of safe zones to justify the involuntary or uninformed return of Syrian refugees from Turkey to Syrian territory, to justify the forced displacement of Syrians inside Syria, or to prevent Syrians from seeking international protections. The role of the Government of Turkey and Turkish-backed forces in facilitating humanitarian actors, including international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs), for cross-border work from Turkey and in ensuring efficient, open supply lines for humanitarian assistance and personnel through border crossing points on the Turkey-Syria and Iraq-Syria borders, and facilitating safe passage of humanitarian assistance to Syrians inside Syria based on need. The actions of the Government of Turkey and Turkish-backed forces in the operation of all camps for families displaced by conflict as civilian facilities, and ensuring that camp residents, in particular women and children, are treated as civilian victims of conflict in accordance with international law and standards. The actions of the Government of Turkey and Turkish-backed forces in taking effective measures to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, including health facilities, water pumping stations, and restricting use of explosive weapons in populated areas.