Despite Trump's decision to withdraw, the Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that hundreds of troops would remain in Syria

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will keep 500 to 600 troops in Syria after President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw troops, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said on Friday. This comes as the National Army of the Syrian opposition announced that its forces continued their combat operations against the YPG.

"Less than 1,000, maybe 500 soldiers, maybe 600, will remain in Syria in the future," General Mark Milli told ABC television, without specifying the nature of their missions in the coming period, whether combat or mission. Only attribution and help.

General Milli did not confirm the exact date remaining for the withdrawal of the rest of his country's troops from Syria, but stressed that the time will not be long, and will not be much later.

On December 19, President Trump announced the start of his country's withdrawal from Syria and its return to the United States without setting a date, under the pretext of defeating the Islamic State.

US Central Command chief General Joseph Votel said on February 11 that Washington was likely to begin withdrawing its ground forces from Syria within weeks of President Trump's order.

Combat operations
This comes as the National Army of the Syrian opposition announced that its forces continued their combat operations against the Kurdish People's Protection Units of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces, as part of the operation "spring of peace" east of the Euphrates.

The National Army said in a statement that the follow-up of military actions east of the Euphrates aims to control the areas under the control of Kurdish units for not adhering to the Turkish-Russian agreement, which requires the withdrawal of 30 kilometers from the Syrian-Turkish border, in addition to targeting units for civilians and army positions.

Eight people were killed when a bomb exploded on Sunday in an area controlled by Turkish forces and allied Syrian opposition factions in northeastern Syria, the defense ministry and local medics said.

The ministry blamed the bombing on the YPG, saying the blast took place in the town of "Sluk" southeast of the town of Tal Abyad, which Turkey took over in a military offensive that began a month ago.

The town of Sluk is 10 km from the border, and aid workers said a pickup truck exploded outside a bakery there.