Even after the withdrawal of US troops from Syria about 200 American soldiers are to remain stationed in the country. The US government wants this "small group" of soldiers still "for a time" in Syria, said Thursday the spokeswoman for the White House, Sarah Sanders. It is still unclear where exactly the soldiers should be stationed and for how long they will stay in the country.
US President Donald Trump had surprisingly announced in mid-December to withdraw all about 2,000 US troops from Syria. There, the terrorist militia "Islamic State" (IS) was defeated and reached the goal of the US mission. Trump had often met with incomprehension and criticism with the announcement and his assessment of the situation - both in allied countries and in their own political camp.
Now, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said he welcomed Trump's decision to leave some soldiers in Syria. The president followed that with solid military advice: "Well done, Mr. President." Reuters quotes an unnamed White House employee as saying the move "sends a clear message to our allies and coalition partners."
My statement on President @realDonaldTrump decision to leave 200 American troops in Syria. pic.twitter.com/OA5apTumm5
- Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) February 22, 2019The US is at the head of an international coalition that is fighting IS in Syria. In the north of the country, the US troops support the Kurdish YPG militia in the fight against the IS. The Kurds fear a complete US withdrawal, an offensive by Turkey on Syrian territory. Turkey sees the YPG as a terrorist organization and has announced that it will smash it.
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The announcement to let about 200 soldiers in Syria came after a telephone call from Trump with the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Both sides had agreed to continue working on the establishment of a possible security zone in northern Syria, the US Presidential Office said afterwards. The talks will continue on Friday at the level of defense ministries and the armed forces.