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Syria's Kurds say US pullout 'harms anti-IS fight' | Syria's Kurds say US pullout 'harms anti-IS fight' |
(35 minutes later) | |
A Kurdish-led alliance in Syria says President Donald Trump's surprise decision to withdraw US troops will allow the Islamic State (IS) group to recover. | A Kurdish-led alliance in Syria says President Donald Trump's surprise decision to withdraw US troops will allow the Islamic State (IS) group to recover. |
A statement from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) warned of a military vacuum that would leave the alliance trapped between "hostile parties". | A statement from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) warned of a military vacuum that would leave the alliance trapped between "hostile parties". |
Mr Trump made the announcement on Wednesday, saying IS had been defeated. | Mr Trump made the announcement on Wednesday, saying IS had been defeated. |
However, major allies and some US politicians have disputed the claim. | |
A US partnership with the SDF - an alliance of Syrian Kurdish and Arab fighters - is credited with playing a major role in the virtual elimination of IS after it overran large swathes of Syria four years ago. | A US partnership with the SDF - an alliance of Syrian Kurdish and Arab fighters - is credited with playing a major role in the virtual elimination of IS after it overran large swathes of Syria four years ago. |
About 2,000 US troops have largely been stationed in the Kurdish region in northern Syria. | About 2,000 US troops have largely been stationed in the Kurdish region in northern Syria. |
The SDF statement warned that the withdrawal would "negatively impact" the anti-IS campaign and allow the group "to revive itself again". | The SDF statement warned that the withdrawal would "negatively impact" the anti-IS campaign and allow the group "to revive itself again". |
It said the US move would have "dangerous implications" for regional stability and "create a political and military vacuum... leaving its people between the claws of hostile parties". | It said the US move would have "dangerous implications" for regional stability and "create a political and military vacuum... leaving its people between the claws of hostile parties". |
Neighbouring Turkey has said it is poised to launch a military operation against the Kurdish YPG militia - the main fighting force in the SDF - which it regards as a terrorist group. | Neighbouring Turkey has said it is poised to launch a military operation against the Kurdish YPG militia - the main fighting force in the SDF - which it regards as a terrorist group. |
US support for the group has strained relations between Washington and Ankara. | US support for the group has strained relations between Washington and Ankara. |
What has the US announced? | What has the US announced? |
The Pentagon said it was transitioning to the "next phase of the campaign" to eliminate IS but did not provide further details. | The Pentagon said it was transitioning to the "next phase of the campaign" to eliminate IS but did not provide further details. |
President Trump, who has long pledged to pull troops out of Syria, said on Twitter that it was time to bring them home after their "historic victories". | President Trump, who has long pledged to pull troops out of Syria, said on Twitter that it was time to bring them home after their "historic victories". |
The White House would not give a timescale for the withdrawal but defence officials quoted by the New York Times said President Trump wanted it done within 30 days. | The White House would not give a timescale for the withdrawal but defence officials quoted by the New York Times said President Trump wanted it done within 30 days. |
What other reaction has there been? | |
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who is one of Mr Trump's supporters and sits on the armed services committee, called the withdrawal decision a "huge Obama-like mistake", which would have "devastating consequences" both in Syria and beyond. | |
He said he feared it would mean ceding influence in the region to Russia and Iran. | |
Mr Trump's announcement came only a week after Brett McGurk, special presidential envoy for the global coalition to defeat IS, cautioned again a US withdrawal from Syria. | |
"Obviously, it would be reckless if we were just to say, well, the physical caliphate is defeated, so we can just leave now. I think anyone who's looked at a conflict like this would agree with that," he told reporters at the state department. | |
The UK government distanced itself from President Trump's assertion that IS had been defeated. | |
"Much remains to be done and we must not lose sight of the threat they pose," a Foreign Office statement said. | |
French Defence Minister Florence Parly said on Twitter that IS had been weakened but not "wiped from the map". | |
"It is necessary that the last pockets of this terrorist organisation be definitively defeated militarily," she added. | |
Israel said it had been told the US had "other ways to have influence in the area" but it would "study the timeline [of the withdrawal], how it will be done and of course the implications for us". | |
Striking a different tone, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the US decision could result in "genuine, real prospects for a political settlement" in Syria. |