US offers mixed message on troops in Syria
UNITED STATES/SYRIA: US troops will remain in Syria for now to finish off Islamic State, the White House said yesterday, despite US President Donald Trump pushing for them to return home.
The US remained ‘‘committed’’ to defeating the small amount of Isis fighters ‘‘not already eradicated’’, a statement said.
However, the White House also said that the mission was ‘‘coming to a rapid end’’, and that countries in the region must help to ensure Isis did not re-emerge in the future.
Trump has made public his desire to ‘‘get out’’ of Syria, even suggesting that Saudi Arabia should pay if it wants the US to remain involved.
However, US generals have said that the ‘‘hard part’’ in the battle against Isis is still to come, and fear a resurgence of the group should the US disengage.
A string of military victories over Isis has seen a dramatic fall in the amount of land it controls.
A carefully worded statement from Sarah Sanders, the White House press secretary, indicated that US soldiers would be remaining in Syria, while insisting that the end of fighting was drawing near.
‘‘The military mission to eradicate Isis in Syria is coming to a rapid end, with Isis being almost completely destroyed,’’ Sanders said. ‘‘The United States and our partners remain committed to eliminating the small Isis presence in Syria that our forces have not already eradicated.
‘‘We will continue to consult with our allies and friends regarding future plans. We expect countries in the region and beyond, plus the United Nations, to work toward peace and ensure that Isis never re-emerges.’’
A White House official confirmed that troops would remain in Syria for now. Around 2000 US soldiers are based in the country.
On Wednesday, Trump reiterated his desire for the troops to return home, saying that the military mission was ‘‘close to 100 per cent’’ complete.
‘‘I want to get out, I want to bring our troops back home. I want to start rebuilding our nation,’’ Trump said at a press conference. He added: ‘‘It’s time. We were very successful against Isis, we will be successful against anybody militarily. But sometimes it’s time to come back home.’’
Trump said the US had gained ‘‘nothing except death and destruction’’ from the trillions of dollars it had spent in the Middle East in the past 17 years.
He also said his message to Saudi Arabia was: ‘‘If you want us to stay, maybe you’re going to have to pay.’’ – Telegraph Group