Baladi News
The US Defense Department is defending President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw 2,000 American troops from Syria, saying the pull out is "deliberate, well thought-out, mutually supportive, and controlled."
In a tweet on Friday, the Pentagon also called the withdrawal the "next phase" of Washington’s support to the so-called anti-Daesh coalition, but did not provide further detail about what that support looks like.
The tweet did not specify which parties were "mutually supportive" of the decision to withdraw US troops.
Trump announced his decision to withdraw the US troops from Syria on Wednesday, asserting that the Daesh (ISIS) terrorist group had been defeated.
Trump’s unexpected announcement shocked top US officials and allies.
French President Emmanuel Macron rebuked Trump over his decision to withdraw troops from Syria, saying "an ally must be reliable."
France, a leading member of the US-led coalition, has said it would keep troops in Syria.
The decision to withdraw ran counter to Defense Department and State Department messaging on US policy in Syria, and led to the resignation of Defense Secretary James Mattis.
Source: Press TV