ILLUSTRATIVE IMAGE: Hussein Malla/AP
About 200 US troops will remain in Syria even after the so-called full withdrawal of forces, according to White House press secretary Sarah Sanders.
“A small peacekeeping group of about 200 will remain in Syria for period of time,” Sanders told CBS News.
However, the timeline of troops withdrawal remains unclear. Furthermore, the Trump administration has still not decided whether ISIS is defeated or no. In some of his statements, President Donald Trump declares ISIS defeated. In others, he vows to defeat it soon.
According to various sources, the US has about 2,000-2,500 troops deployed in Syria. These troops as well as an air support from the US-led coalition are a key factor allowing the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to conduct successful operations against ISIS, according to General Joseph Votel, commander of US Central Command. In his recent remarks on this situation, he openly declared that He also said that the SDF could not defeat the terror group without continued US assistance.
The US military force deployed in the country also allows Washington to project its influence on the ground. An example of this is the US military base in al-Tanf, which is located on a key highway between Syria’s Damascus and Iraq’s Baghdad. Therefore, US forces are blocking traffic between the countries.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
- Syrian Democratic Forces Hand Over More Than 500 ISIS Fighters To Iraqi Military
- US, UK and French Special Forces Are Preparing To Storm Last ISIS Stronghold In Euphrates Valley – Report
