Istanbul, October 17: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan put US President Donald Trump's letter, asking him not to "be a tough guy" or a "fool" and warning him he will be viewed as a "devil" if he sends his forces into Syria, into the dustbin, reports said on Thursday. US Imposes $7.5 Billion Worth Tariffs on European Union Goods, Targets Airbus, Wine and Whisky.

"President Erdogan received the letter, thoroughly rejected it and put it in the bin," Turkish presidential sources told the BBC.

In the October 9 letter sent after US troops were pulled out of Syria, Trump told Erdogan: "Don't be a tough guy. Don't be a fool!"

"Let's work out a good deal! You don't want to be responsible for slaughtering thousands of people, and I don't want to be responsible for destroying the Turkish economy - and I will.

"History will look upon you favourably if you get this done the right and humane way. It will look upon you forever as the devil if good things don't happen," Trump wrote in the letter. Turkey, Kurds Must 'Figure The Situation Out' After US Pullback Troops, Says Donald Trump.

However, the same day the letter was received, Turkey launched a cross-border offensive against Kurdish-led forces in northern Syria. The US has been criticised for withdrawing its troops from the area, a step seen as a cue for Turkish military to cross the border.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 18, 2019 04:01 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).