Directions: Read the summary, watch the video above and answer the discussion questions. Read along with the transcript here.

Educator’s note: While some context is provided, we suggest you read this short New York Times article “Who Are the Kurds, and Why Is Turkey Attacking Them in Syria?” before teaching the lesson.

Summary: On October 13, 2019, President Donald Trump ordered the withdrawal of nearly all 1,000 U.S. troops from northern Syria as Turkey continued a military offensive against Syrian Kurds. Since Trump’s announcement last week, more than 110,000 Syrian Kurds have fled their homes.

About 21 million Kurds live in northern Syria, close to Turkey, and are the largest ethnic minority in Syria. Large numbers of Kurdish people also live in Turkey, Iraq and Iran.

On October 11, Hervin Khalaf, a 35-year-old Syrian politician and human rights activist, was allegedly dragged from her car and murdered by Turkish-backed paramilitaries. Khalaf was secretary-general of the Future Syria Party, which formed in northern Syria in an area liberated from Islamic State (ISIS). About 11,000 Kurdish forces died helping the U.S. battle Islamic State militants. After facing heavy criticism that he gave the Turkish government a green light to attack our allies, Trump says he will begin economic sanctions on Turkey.

October 14, 2019 video and resource materials from PBS NewsHour.

Check out our Daily News Story collection, or find more at PBS NewsHour Extra.