The United States President Donald Trump has on Tuesday said he has 100 per cent agreed with a decision to keep American troop forces in Syria.
According to ANI news reports, “a bipartisan group of Senators and Representatives” has on February 22, lauded Trump’s decision to leave a section of US military stationed in Syria in order to ensure region’s stability and prevent the comeback of the Islamic State (IS).
A copy of the letter obtained by NBC News read: “We support a small American stabilizing force in Syria. We agree that a stabilizing force, which includes a small contingent of American troops and ground forces from our European allies, is essential to ensure stability and prevent the return of ISIS. It also serves to help set the table for a negotiated settlement to the Syrian war in Geneva.”
The US lawmaker noted: “Like you, we seek to ensure that all of the gains made in Syria are not lost, that ISIS never returns, that Iran is not emboldened, and that we consolidate our gains and ensure the best outcome in Geneva for American interests.”
In a response to the letter, the US president said, “I agree 100 per cent. All is being done.” While quoting sources, Xinhua reported the US troops would leave about 400 American troops in two different provinces of Syria.
Half of them would join a multinational force of nearly 800-1,500 troops stationed in north-eastern Syria in order to maintain a buffer between the US-backed Kurdish forces and Turkey. Rest 200 troops would be deployed at the al-Tanf base, near the Syrian border with Jordan and Iraq, according to the White House.
Last month, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders had confirmed some American troops will stay in Syria after the SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) finishes its assaults over IS in Baghouz.
In a statement, Sanders wrote: “A small peacekeeping group of about 200 will remain in Syria for a period of time.”