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Syria conflict: US announces withdrawal of troops Syria conflict: US withdraws troops after IS 'defeat'
(35 minutes later)
The White House has confirmed US troops are being withdrawn from Syria, after President Trump said the Islamic State (IS) group had been "defeated" there. United States troops are being withdrawn from Syria, after President Trump said the Islamic State (IS) group had been "defeated" there.
Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said the US troops had already begun to return home. The Pentagon said it was transitioning to the "next phase of the campaign" but did not give details.
Some 2,000 troops have helped rid much of north-eastern Syria of IS, but pockets of fighters remain.Some 2,000 troops have helped rid much of north-eastern Syria of IS, but pockets of fighters remain.
It is thought defence officials wanted to maintain a US presence to ensure IS did not rebuild. It had been thought defence officials wanted to maintain a US presence to ensure IS did not rebuild.
There are also fears it will cede influence in Syria and the wider region to Russia and Iran. There are also fears a US withdrawal will cede influence in Syria and the wider region to Russia and Iran.
The statement from Ms Sanders said: "We have started returning United States troops home as we transition to the next phase of this campaign". Both the Pentagon and the White House statement said the US had started "returning United States troops home as we transition to the next phase of this campaign".
She did not give details of what that campaign might be, but said the US and its allies stood "ready to re-engage at all levels to defend American interests whenever necessary, and we will continue to work together to deny radical Islamist terrorists territory, funding, support and any means of infiltrating our borders". The Pentagon said it would not provide further details of what that next phase is "for force protection and operational security reasons".
The Pentagon has so far refused to comment, but Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who sits on the armed services committee, called it a "huge Obama-like mistake". The White House said the US and its allies stood "ready to re-engage at all levels to defend American interests whenever necessary, and we will continue to work together to deny radical Islamist terrorists territory, funding, support and any means of infiltrating our borders".
Just a few days ago, Brett McGurk, Mr Trump's special presidential envoy for the global coalition to defeat IS, suggested American troops were not going anywhere. "Nobody is saying that [IS fighters] are going to disappear. Nobody is that naive. So we want to stay on the ground and make sure that stability can be maintained in these areas," he said. What has been the reaction?
But President Trump promised earlier this year that US troops would leave Syria "very soon". Israel said it had been told the US had "other ways to have influence in the area" but would "study the timeline [of the withdrawal], how it will be done and of course the implications for us".
The confirmation of the withdrawal comes after Turkey said it was preparing to launch an operation against a US-backed Kurdish militia in northern Syria, something that risks confrontation with the US. Russia, Syria's key ally, said the US withdrawal could create prospects for a political settlement, according to Tass news agency.
Pulling troops out of Syria had long been promised by President Trump.
But the announcement may have taken some of his own officials by surprise. Only a few days ago, Brett McGurk, special presidential envoy for the global coalition to defeat IS, said: "Nobody is saying that [IS fighters] are going to disappear. Nobody is that naive. So we want to stay on the ground and make sure that stability can be maintained in these areas."
One of Mr Trump's supporters, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who sits on the armed services committee, called it a "huge Obama-like mistake".
In a series of tweets, he said IS was "not defeated", and warned withdrawing US troops puts "our allies, the Kurds, at risk".
Turkey this week said it was preparing to launch an operation against a Kurdish militia in northern Syria, which has been an ally of the US in its fight against IS.
Chaotic US policy?Chaotic US policy?
Jonathan Marcus, BBC diplomatic correspondentJonathan Marcus, BBC diplomatic correspondent
President Trump's decision reverses the official lines of both the Pentagon and the State Department and it places Washington's Kurdish allies in greater jeopardy.President Trump's decision reverses the official lines of both the Pentagon and the State Department and it places Washington's Kurdish allies in greater jeopardy.
US ground operations in north-eastern Syria involve some 2,000 troops, maybe more, and a network of bases and air strips has been established. But to what strategic end?US ground operations in north-eastern Syria involve some 2,000 troops, maybe more, and a network of bases and air strips has been established. But to what strategic end?
IS is well on the way to being defeated. Syria's President Assad remains in place. If the goal now is to contain Iran or Russia's rising influence in the region then 2,000 troops strung out across a vast swathe of territory may be too small a force to do this.IS is well on the way to being defeated. Syria's President Assad remains in place. If the goal now is to contain Iran or Russia's rising influence in the region then 2,000 troops strung out across a vast swathe of territory may be too small a force to do this.
Their presence though does give the US "skin in the game". And many will see this decision as yet another indication of the chaos and uncertainty surrounding US policy towards this crucial region.Their presence though does give the US "skin in the game". And many will see this decision as yet another indication of the chaos and uncertainty surrounding US policy towards this crucial region.
What is the US presence?What is the US presence?
US troops have largely been stationed in the Kurdish region in northern Syria.US troops have largely been stationed in the Kurdish region in northern Syria.
The partnership with Syrian Kurdish and Arab fighters (the Syrian Democratic Forces) is credited with virtually eliminating IS after it overran large swathes of Syria four years ago, imposing a brutal rule on almost eight million people across Iraq and Syria. A partnership with an alliance of Syrian Kurdish and Arab fighters, known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, is credited with playing a major role in the virtual elimination of IS after it overran large swathes of Syria four years ago, imposing brutal rule on almost eight million people in the country and neighbouring Iraq.
However, the militant group has not disappeared entirely. A recent US report said there were still as many as 14,000 IS militants in Syria and even more in neighbouring Iraq - and there is a fear they will shift to guerrilla tactics in an attempt to rebuild their network.However, the militant group has not disappeared entirely. A recent US report said there were still as many as 14,000 IS militants in Syria and even more in neighbouring Iraq - and there is a fear they will shift to guerrilla tactics in an attempt to rebuild their network.
But the partnership between the US and the Kurds has enraged neighbouring Turkey, which views Kurdish YPG forces - the main fighting force in the SDF - as an extension of a banned Kurdish group fighting for autonomy in Turkey. But the partnership between the US and the Kurds has enraged neighbouring Turkey, which views the Kurdish YPG militia - the main fighting force in the SDF - as an extension of a banned Kurdish group fighting for autonomy in Turkey.
On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country might soon start a new military operation against the YPG in Syria.On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country might soon start a new military operation against the YPG in Syria.
Mr Erdogan added that he had discussed his plan with Mr Trump by telephone and that he had given a "positive response".Mr Erdogan added that he had discussed his plan with Mr Trump by telephone and that he had given a "positive response".
In addition to the northern deployment, US forces are also helping fight IS in the last pocket of territory it controls in the south-east of the country.In addition to the northern deployment, US forces are also helping fight IS in the last pocket of territory it controls in the south-east of the country.