after an aerial and arterial assault. the rapid escalation comes only four days after president trump privately green lighted a small turkish incursion in the area. trump defended his decision today and made a reference to normandy. >> we've been talking to turkey for three years. they've been wanting to do this for many years as you know. they've been fighting each other for centuries. they've been fighting each other for hundreds of years. this has been going on. we were put into this battle. kurds are fighting for hair land, just so you understand. they didn't help us in the second world war, normandy is an example. >> according to various reports the kurdish militia is said to be holding more than 12,000 suspected islamic state members in seven prisons. u.s. defense officials told reporters those kurdish forces have suspended all operations against the islamic state. president trump was asked if he