Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the United States is preparing to evacuate approximately 1,000 U.S. troops form northern Syria as quickly as possible.

Esper’s comments come a week after the Trump administration unexpectedly announced their decision to withdraw troops from the area. The move, which has been criticized by both Democrats and Republicans in Congress, has left the Kurds, a long time ally of the United States, to defend themselves from Turkey’s incursion.