Approximately 200 U.S. troops will remain in Syria after the rest of the 2,000 U.S. troops stationed in the region are withdrawn, according to a new report.
“A small peacekeeping group of about 200 will remain in Syria for a period of time,” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement.
President Trump declared in December that the Islamic State was overthrown and that troops would pull out of Syria and earlier this month stressed that U.S. troops must return home and that “great nations do not fight endless wars.”
“Now, as we work with our allies to destroy the remnants of ISIS, it is time to give our brave warriors in Syria a warm welcome home,” Trump said during his State of the Union address.
The plan has sparked concern among advisers and Kurdish allies that Kurdish forces who have aided the U.S. will not be protected from Turkish forces — given that Turkey considers some Kurdish forces in Syria terrorists.
However, Trump spoke over the phone with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier Thursday, and Sanders said the two agreed to “continue coordinating on the creation of a potential safe zone.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said the move will both prevent ISIS from returning and ensure Iran does not fill the vacuum left by the U.S. withdrawal to gain power in the region.
“A safe zone in Syria made up of international forces is the best way to achieve our national security objectives of continuing to contain Iran, ensuring the enduring defeat of ISIS, protecting our Turkish allies, and securing the Turkish border with Syria,” said Graham, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee.
“With this decision, President Trump has decided to follow sound military advice,” he said. “This decision will ensure that we will not repeat the mistakes of Iraq, in Syria.”
Acting Secretary of Defense Pat Shanahan and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Joseph Dunford are scheduled to meet with their Turkish counterparts in Washington this week.
