The U.S. is attempting to gather support from Arab nations as the Trump administration seeks to replace U.S. military forces in Syria with Arab forces, according to a new report.
President Trump’s national security adviser John Bolton has contacted Egypt’s acting intelligence chief Abbas Kamel regarding whether Egypt would participate in the endeavor, according to the Wall Street Journal. Furthermore, the Trump administration has solicited financial assistance from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates to assist northern Syria.
“Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the U.A.E. have all been approached with respect to financial support and more broadly to contribute,” an administration official said, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Additionally, the administration is angling for Arab nations to send troops to the region, officials told the Wall Street Journal.
The report comes after the U.S. launched a military strike on Syria Friday, in response to the chemical attacks carried out against civilians in Syria last weekend.
Trump signaled Friday when he announced the strike he was looking for other nations to assist stabilizing Syria.
“We have asked our partners to take greater responsibility for securing their home region, including contributing larger amounts of money,” Trump said Friday.
The comment comes after it was reported earlier this month he had ordered military leaders to pull the 2,000 U.S. troops in Syria out of the region in a timely manner.
Trump has ordered a military strike against Syria in the past. After a chemical weapons attack on civilians in April 2017, Trump issued a retaliatory strike on a Syrian air base.
