US urges Germany to send troops to Syria

James Jeffrey, US Special Envoy for Syria and Coalition Against The IS said Washington wants the German Army to send forces for training, logistics experts and technical workers.

“We want ground troops from Germany, in part to replace our soldiers”, Jeffrey said in an interview for the German weekly Wrlt am Sontag and Dpa, adding that the US expects answers from Germany to the issue by the end of the month.

US troops have supported the SDF in the fight against the Syrian government of the president, Bashar al-Assad and the militant group, the Islamic State.

In December last year, however, US President Donald Trump announced he plans to withdraw 2,000 American troops from northern Syria.

Following numerous criticisms at the US Congress and Allied Congress, Trump later changed the plan and said several hundred troops would continue to stay in Syria to help stabilise Kurdish regions located along the Iraqi-Siri border.

American officials have asked the Allies to send more troops to Syria.

We're looking among the other coalition partners who volunteer to take part in the case. We believe we can succeed”, Jeffrey said.

Germany has supported the coalition by sending fuel to planes from Jordan. Germany also trained forces in Iraq. The mission is expected to be completed on October 31st, but German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has said this mission will be extended.