10 minutes agoUS paves way for Turkey, withdraws troops from Syria
Periskopi(7 years ago)
(7 years ago)The White House confirmed this Wednesday the launch of the withdrawal of American troops from Syria, just after President Donald Trump declared that the Islamic State group was “moshtur” there. Secretary for the Press Sarah Sanders said American troops have already started going home. About 2,000 troops helped retake a section [...]
The White House confirmed this Wednesday the launch of the withdrawal of American troops from Syria, just after President Donald Trump declared that the Islamic State group was “moshtur” there. Secretary for the Press Sarah Sanders said American troops have already started going home. About 2,000 troops helped regain a considerable section of Syria's northeast from the Islamic State, yet some “gepa” fighters remain on the ground.
Trump's decision seems to come in contradiction with what defence officials wanted, namely, the preservation of the American presence there to ensure ISIS's subsequent absence. Fear also exists that with this move, influence in Syria or beyond the region will go to Russia and Iran.
Through its statement, Sanders said that “we have begun restoring United States troops home, while currently we are in transition period towards the next phase of this” campaign.
She did not give details of this campaign, but said the United States and allies “stand ready to return to any level to protect American interests wherever necessary, and we will continue to work together to deny radicalised Islamic terrorists more territory, financing, support or any way to infiltrate our”.
The Pentagon has so far refused to comment, while Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a member of the Committee for Armed Forces, called this “a major mistake similar to those of Obama”.
Just a few days ago, Brett McGurk, special presidential envoy for the global coalition that fought I SIS suggested that American troops not withdraw.
“No one is saying I's fighters The SIS will disappear, no one can be so naive. Therefore, we want to stay on the ground and ensure that stability should be maintained in these” areas, he said. But President Trump had promised earlier this year that American troops would leave Syria “very soon.
The confirmation of the withdrawal comes after Turkey said it was preparing to launch an operation against US-backed Kurdish militia in northern Syria, which risks confrontation with the United States.
