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Continue on for a transcript of Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper's 14 October statement.

"That pact transformed the Kurds, an erstwhile partner of the U.S. in the fight against Islamic State, into a force more closely aligned with Russia and Iran, as the U.S. began withdrawing its troops from northeastern Syria."

"Since the outbreak of Syria's brutal civil war, the United States has stated several objectives -- destroying Islamic State extremists, easing from power President Bashar al-Assad and limiting Iran's influence. In just one decision, President Donald Trump may have undone all three."

"It has taken a week to reshape the map of the Syrian war, in the seven days since President Donald Trump used what he called his 'great and unmatched wisdom' to order the withdrawal of US troops from northern Syria."

"The SDF’s demise threatens to erase gains over the last five years that have forced ISIS militants into hiding in remote pockets in the desert and across the Euphrates."

"Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who last week warned that the U.S. would apply sanctions if Turkey proceeded with a military strike in northern Syria, said his office was to present President Trump with retaliatory options."

"Syria's army has started to reach the north of the country, hours after the government agreed to help Kurdish forces facing Turkey. State media said government forces, which are backed by Russia, had entered the strategic town of Tal Tamer, 30km (19 miles) south of the Turkish border."

"From Syria to Ukraine, new fault lines and tensions are offering the Kremlin fresh opportunities to expand its clout and advance its interests."

"Hundreds of foreign women and children linked to Islamic State escaped from a camp in northeastern Syria when Turkish-backed fighters attacked it, U.S.-backed Kurdish forces controlling the area said, raising fears that the Turkish offensive will undermine American efforts to eliminate the extremist group."

"The Kurds in Syria say the Syrian government has agreed to send its army to the northern border to try to halt Turkey's offensive against them. Syrian state media earlier reported that government forces had been deployed to the north."

The U.S. is withdrawing all remaining troops from northern Syria, as President Donald Trump said Sunday it was "very smart... for a change" to not be involved in the fighting sparked by Turkey's onslaught against the U.S.'s long-time battlefield ally, Kurdish fighters.

"U.S. officials and representatives of the Afghan Taliban have begun discussing ways to revive a peace process after talks fell apart last month, according to people familiar with the discussions."

"The Secretary of Defense is carrying out orders from President Donald Trump to move US forces in Syria to move south of Turkey’s attacks against Kurds, but not leave that conflict-wracked country."

"For the nearly 200 candidates scrambling through Hoffman Forest at Camp Mackall, the struggle to become a Green Beret is real. But Army commanders are making sweeping changes to shorten and revamp the course. The aim is to meet evolving national security threats and to shift from a culture that weeds out struggling soldiers at every point to one that trains them to do better."

"President Trump has ordered a withdrawal of virtually all U.S. forces from northern Syria in the face of a Turkish military offensive targeting Kurdish fighters in the region, Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper said Sunday, after days of assurances from the Pentagon that the United States was not “abandoning” its partners in the campaign against the Islamic State."

"American troops and former U.S. officials believe a Turkish artillery strike on Friday that landed about 300 meters from a U.S. commando outpost near the Syrian city of Kobani was done deliberately."

"Turkish troops move into a Kurdish-held Syrian town on Saturday, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes as Turkey pursued an invasion of northeastern Syria with heavy artillery and aerial bombardments despite global condemnation and fresh sanction threats from the Trump administration."

"Kurds under attack from Turkey in northern Syria say they will no longer prioritise guarding Islamic State detainees if the offensive continues."

Former U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who resigned over disagreements with President Donald Trump, has warned that the Islamic State (IS) extremist group could “resurge” in the wake of Trump’s decision to pull troops out of northeast Syria.

"Turkey's military said it captured a key Syrian border town under heavy bombardment Saturday in its most significant gain since an offensive against Kurdish fighters began four days ago, with no sign of relenting despite mounting international criticism."

"U.S. forces in Syria are still conducting ground and air patrols in Syria, according to a coalition U.S. military official. The patrols continue despite reports of a temporary pause in anti-ISIS operations in the country as Turkish forces continue to advance against U.S.-backed Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria."

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"The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces on Saturday urged its U.S. allies to assume their 'moral obligations' to protect them from a cross-border Turkish offensive, now in its fourth day."

"Turkey’s military incursion into northern Syria this week triggered a new rift between Ankara and its NATO allies, highlighting a growing divergence on security concerns and complicating efforts to thwart an increasingly assertive Russia."

The World Food Program says more than 100,000 people have been displaced so far by the Turkish invasion of northern Syria. The agency said those displaced have come from the towns of Ras al-Ayn and Tal Abyad.