Baladi News
The general overseeing US forces in the Middle East said on Thursday that he was under no pressure to withdraw forces from Syria by any specific date after President Donald Trump ordered the drawdown of most US troops from Syria.
“What is driving the withdrawal of course is our mission, which is the defeat of Daesh, and so that is our principal focus, and that is making sure that we protect our forces, that we don’t withdraw in a manner that increases the risk to our forces,” US Army General Joseph Votel, head of the US Central Command, said during a House Armed Services Committee hearing.
“There is not pressure on me to meet a specific date at this particular time,” Votel said.
Trump ordered the withdrawal of all 2,000 US troops in Syria in December after he said they had defeated Daesh militants in Syria. The abrupt decision sparked an outcry from allies and US lawmakers and was a factor in Jim Mattis’ resignation as defence secretary.
But Trump was persuaded by advisers that about 200 US troops would join what is expected to be a total commitment of about 800 to 1,500 troops from European allies to set up and observe a safe zone being negotiated for northeastern Syria.
About 200 other US troops will remain at the US military outpost of Tanf, near the border with Iraq and Jordan.
Source: Middle East Monitor.