United States: Defense Minister Jim Mattis resigns

The US Defense Minister resigns. Jim Mattis will leave office "at the end of February," Donald Trump wrote on Twitter on Thursday, the day after the announcement of the US withdrawal in Syria.

General Jim Mattis will be retiring, with distinction, at the end of February, after having served as Secretary of Defense for the past two years. During Jim's tenure, tremendous progress has been made, especially with respect to the purchase of new fighting ....

.... equipment. General Mattis was a great help to me in getting allies and other countries to pay their share of military obligations. A new Secretary of Defense will be named shortly. I greatly thank Jim for his service!

"A new defense minister will be appointed soon," added the US president.