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| Syria conflict: Trump 'committed to defeating IS', says Lindsey Graham | Syria conflict: Trump 'committed to defeating IS', says Lindsey Graham |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A top Republican has said US President Donald Trump committed to defeating Islamic State (IS) in Syria, despite his decision to withdraw US troops. | A top Republican has said US President Donald Trump committed to defeating Islamic State (IS) in Syria, despite his decision to withdraw US troops. |
| Senator Lindsey Graham said he was now reassured of the president's commitment after meeting him on Sunday. | Senator Lindsey Graham said he was now reassured of the president's commitment after meeting him on Sunday. |
| Mr Trump's troops withdrawal plan was met with strong criticism from major allies, as well as senior Republicans like Mr Graham. | Mr Trump's troops withdrawal plan was met with strong criticism from major allies, as well as senior Republicans like Mr Graham. |
| The president and White House have yet to comment on any formal plan changes. | The president and White House have yet to comment on any formal plan changes. |
| On 19 December, Mr Trump announced the pullout of some 2,000 troops, asserting that IS had been defeated. | On 19 December, Mr Trump announced the pullout of some 2,000 troops, asserting that IS had been defeated. |
| Critics of the plan dispute this claim, arguing the move could lead to a resurgence of IS which would hurt national security. | Critics of the plan dispute this claim, arguing the move could lead to a resurgence of IS which would hurt national security. |
| US troops have helped rid much of Syria's north-east of the jihadist group, but pockets of fighters remain. | US troops have helped rid much of Syria's north-east of the jihadist group, but pockets of fighters remain. |
| Two people have since resigned since the decision was announced - Defence Secretary Jim Mattis and a top US official in the fight against IS, Brett McGurk. | Two people have since resigned since the decision was announced - Defence Secretary Jim Mattis and a top US official in the fight against IS, Brett McGurk. |
| What did the president tell Senator Graham? | What did the president tell Senator Graham? |
| Lindsey Graham, who had earlier called the withdrawal decision a "huge Obama-like mistake", told journalists: "The president assured me he is going to make sure he gets the job done. | |
| "He promised to destroy Isis. He's going to keep that promise. | "He promised to destroy Isis. He's going to keep that promise. |
| "I think we're slowing things down in a smart way," the South Carolina senator said. | "I think we're slowing things down in a smart way," the South Carolina senator said. |
| Implying that Mr Trump might rethink or delay the withdrawal of US troops, Mr Graham said: "I think we're in a pause situation where we are re-evaluating what's the best way to achieve the president's objective of having people pay more and do more." | Implying that Mr Trump might rethink or delay the withdrawal of US troops, Mr Graham said: "I think we're in a pause situation where we are re-evaluating what's the best way to achieve the president's objective of having people pay more and do more." |
| The BBC's Jonathan Marcus suggested that Mr Trump appears to be washing his hands of the Middle East and handing the whole job over to Russia, Turkey and Iran. | The BBC's Jonathan Marcus suggested that Mr Trump appears to be washing his hands of the Middle East and handing the whole job over to Russia, Turkey and Iran. |
| Speaking later on CNN, Mr Graham also expressed concern that the US withdrawal would leave "our allies the Kurds" in the north of Syria exposed to attacks from Turkey. | Speaking later on CNN, Mr Graham also expressed concern that the US withdrawal would leave "our allies the Kurds" in the north of Syria exposed to attacks from Turkey. |
| "If we leave now, the Kurds are going to get slaughtered," he said. "The president is reconsidering how we do this. He's frustrated, I get that." | "If we leave now, the Kurds are going to get slaughtered," he said. "The president is reconsidering how we do this. He's frustrated, I get that." |
| What is the US presence in Syria? | What is the US presence in Syria? |
| US ground troops first became involved in Syria in autumn 2015 when then-President Barack Obama sent in a small number of special forces to train and advise local Kurdish fighters who were fighting IS. | US ground troops first became involved in Syria in autumn 2015 when then-President Barack Obama sent in a small number of special forces to train and advise local Kurdish fighters who were fighting IS. |
| The US did this reluctantly after several attempts at arming anti-IS groups had descended into chaos. | The US did this reluctantly after several attempts at arming anti-IS groups had descended into chaos. |
| Over the intervening years the numbers of US troops in Syria increased, standing today at some 2,000, though some estimates place the number perhaps even higher. | Over the intervening years the numbers of US troops in Syria increased, standing today at some 2,000, though some estimates place the number perhaps even higher. |
| A network of bases and airstrips has been established in an arc across the north-eastern part of the country. | A network of bases and airstrips has been established in an arc across the north-eastern part of the country. |
| The US has also been part of an international coalition conducting air strikes against IS and other militants. | The US has also been part of an international coalition conducting air strikes against IS and other militants. |