Trump says US being 'very tough' on Turkey; Pence, Pompeo to visit Ankara

The US is being "very tough" on Turkey and has imposed the strongest sanctions, President Donald Trump said, as a delegation headed by Vice President Mike Pence prepares to leave for Ankara on Wednesday to press the Turks to stop their military offensive in northern Syria.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, Trump also reiterated that his administration wants to bring US soldiers back home.

Members of the high-power delegation, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Advisor Robert O' Brien, are slated to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on October 17.

The Turkish offensive, which began last week after the US decided to withdraw troops from Syria, aims to push the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) from the border region. Turkey considers the biggest militia in the SDF a terrorist organisation.

The Turkish government wants to create a "safe zone" in the area, where it can resettle up to two million Syrian refugees currently in Turkey.

Mike (Pence) is getting ready to make a big trip. He will be leaving tomorrow (Wednesday). We have a delegation leaving today and Mike is setting it up with Secretary Pompeo. They will be leaving tomorrow and we are having very strong talks with a lot of people, Trump said.

The ongoing violence in the region, severely undermines the Defeat-ISIS campaign, endangers civilians and religious minorities and threatens the security of the entire region, the White House said.

The administration is resolved to maintain security in the region, the safety of civilians and the continued detention of ISIS fighters, it added.

On pulling out troops from Syria, a move he has been criticised for, Trump said, We want to bring our soldiers back home after so many years and they are the greatest warriors in the world."