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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 Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) warned of a military vacuum that would leave the alliance trapped between "hostile parties". | A statement from the Syria 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. | 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". |
| In a later tweet, he said the move should not have come as a surprise. | In a later tweet, he said the move should not have come as a surprise. |
| 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? | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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. | 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. | "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 was weakened but not "wiped from the map". | |
| German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the US decision risked damaging the fight against IS. | |
| 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". | 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". |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at his annual news conference, welcomed the US decision but said he had so far seen no signs of a US pull-out. | Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at his annual news conference, welcomed the US decision but said he had so far seen no signs of a US pull-out. |
| "The US has been in Afghanistan for 17 years and they always say they are withdrawing," he cautioned. | "The US has been in Afghanistan for 17 years and they always say they are withdrawing," he cautioned. |
| What now for the Kurds? | What now for the Kurds? |
| Analysis by Jonathan Marcus, BBC diplomatic correspondent | Analysis by Jonathan Marcus, BBC diplomatic correspondent |
| Many will see President Trump's decision to withdraw US ground forces from north-eastern Syria as nothing less than a betrayal of the Kurds. | Many will see President Trump's decision to withdraw US ground forces from north-eastern Syria as nothing less than a betrayal of the Kurds. |
| They have been Washington's most effective ally in the fight against IS. Now they are left as one spokesman for the largely Kurdish Syria Democratic Forces put it - "between the claws of hostile parties." | They have been Washington's most effective ally in the fight against IS. Now they are left as one spokesman for the largely Kurdish Syria Democratic Forces put it - "between the claws of hostile parties." |
| Turkey seems ready to push southwards, further into Syria to neutralise Kurdish fighters. | Turkey seems ready to push southwards, further into Syria to neutralise Kurdish fighters. |
| The Syrian regime has scores to settle. And IS, while significantly weakened, could still re-emerge from any security vacuum left by the US departure. The Kurds have secured a significant degree of autonomy in this part of Syria, but how long will this last? | The Syrian regime has scores to settle. And IS, while significantly weakened, could still re-emerge from any security vacuum left by the US departure. The Kurds have secured a significant degree of autonomy in this part of Syria, but how long will this last? |
| The Kurds are divided between four countries - Syria, Turkey, Iraq and Iran - and riven by sectional disputes of their own. Their dreams of statehood seem as far away as ever. | The Kurds are divided between four countries - Syria, Turkey, Iraq and Iran - and riven by sectional disputes of their own. Their dreams of statehood seem as far away as ever. |
| What has Turkey said? | What has Turkey said? |
| On Thursday, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar issued a stark warning to YPG fighters, saying they "will be buried in their ditches when the time comes". | On Thursday, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar issued a stark warning to YPG fighters, saying they "will be buried in their ditches when the time comes". |
| On Monday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the military operation against the YPG would start soon. | On Monday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the military operation against the YPG would start soon. |
| He added that he had discussed his plan with Mr Trump by telephone and that he had given a "positive response". | He added that he had discussed his plan with Mr Trump by telephone and that he had given a "positive response". |
| A spokesman for Kurdish authorities in north-eastern Syria, Aldar Xelil, told Ronahi TV that no-one was clear on details of the withdrawal "including US commanders here". | A spokesman for Kurdish authorities in north-eastern Syria, Aldar Xelil, told Ronahi TV that no-one was clear on details of the withdrawal "including US commanders here". |
| However, he called for continued protests against the looming Turkish operation. | However, he called for continued protests against the looming Turkish operation. |
| What is the US military operation in Syria? | What is the US military operation in Syria? |
| As well as having troops in the north-east, the US has also been part of an international coalition conducting air strikes against IS and other militants. | As well as having troops in the north-east, the US has also been part of an international coalition conducting air strikes against IS and other militants. |
| There is no suggestion that the US will halt these strikes. | There is no suggestion that the US will halt these strikes. |
| Although diminished, IS 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. | Although diminished, IS 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. |