General: ‘I was not consulted’ on Syria plan

The commander of U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, said Tuesday he “was not consulted” prior to President Donald Trump’s December announcement that the U.S. would withdraw its troops from Syria.

And despite Mr. Trump’s claims that ISIS has been defeated, Gen. Joseph Votel said the fight against the terror group is “not over” and warned ISIS could regroup after U.S. troops leave.

“I was not aware of the specific announcement. Certainly we are aware that he had expressed a desire and intent in the past to depart Iraq, depart Syria,” Gen. Votel said during a Tuesday hearing held by the Senate Armed Services Committee.

“So you weren’t consulted before that decision was announced?” Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, asked.

“We were not, I was not consulted,” Gen. Votel responded.

PM on Irish border changes

LONDON — British Prime Minister Theresa May told business leaders in Northern Ireland on Tuesday that she is seeking changes to the U.K.’s withdrawal agreement with the European Union, but not the total removal of the Irish border provision that is the most contentious part of the deal.

Seeking to ease fears about the return of customs posts and vehicle checks, Ms. May said during a visit to Belfast that the British government is committed to preventing the construction of a physical border between EU member Ireland and the U.K.’s Northern Ireland after Britain leaves the European Union.

The prime minister said she was in Belfast “to affirm my commitment to delivering a Brexit that ensures no return to a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland — which is unshakable.”

She also emphasized the government’s support for the Good Friday agreement, the 1998 treaty that largely ended decades of violence in Northern Ireland known as “the Troubles.”

Opposition plans to give aid

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela’s opposition says it is preparing to deliver tens of millions of dollars in food and medicine to ease devastating shortages and undermine the authoritarian rule of Nicolas Maduro. But some major relief organizations are reluctant to cooperate, fearing the plan could turn humanitarian aid into a political weapon.

On Tuesday, the opposition said it would begin stocking warehouses near the Venezuelan border with supplies donated by the United States, Colombia and Venezuelans abroad. The humanitarian aid — baby formula, nutritional supplements, medicine and hospital supplies — could provide the opposition with a tangible way of weakening Mr. Maduro, who has long relied on food handouts to keep his political base loyal.

Getting the aid into Venezuela, past Mr. Maduro’s security forces and into the right hands, will be a critical test of the opposition’s ability to rally the nation and establish an interim government. While the U.S. and more than 30 other nations have recognized the opposition leader, Juan Guaido, as Venezuela’s rightful leader, he and his supporters need to show they can run the country effectively.

Fire in Paris kills 10

PARIS — Paris’ deadliest fire in over a decade claimed 10 lives, sending fleeing residents to the roof to escape the flames that engulfed their apartment building before dawn Tuesday.

A 40-year-old female resident, said to have a history of psychiatric problems, was detained near the eight-story building in the quiet neighborhood as police opened an investigation into voluntary arson resulting in death.

U.S. envoy to visit N. Korea

TOKYO — U.S. envoy Stephen Biegun travels Wednesday to meet his North Korean counterpart in Pyongyang, where he will try to advance a plan to reinvigorate denuclearization talks ahead of a new summit.

Since his appointment in August as special representative for North Korea, Mr. Biegun has played a central role in trying to put substance around what the United States wants and how it wants to achieve it.