The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
US considers keeping small military force
Syria: Possible measures to secure oil fields in the north-east
US officials are discussing an option that would keep a small residual military force in north-east Syria to secure oil fields and continue the fight against so-called Islamic State (IS) militants.
Defence secretary Mark Esper said he had not made a final decision on that option and has not yet presented it to president Donald Trump.
Speaking at a press conference in Kabul, Afghanistan, Mr Esper said some American forces that are in north-east Syria have not yet started to withdraw.
He said they are working with Syrian Kurdish fighters to secure the oil fields in the region so they do not fall under control of IS.
Mr Esper said the troops around Kobani are withdrawing first and that troops in the north-east are still in the towns near the oil.
He also said the US is maintaining combat air patrol over US forces in Syria as the withdrawal goes on.
He said the US is using overhead surveillance to try to monitor the recently negotiated ceasefire “as best we can”.
While Mr Trump has insisted he is bringing home Americans from “endless wars” in the Middle East, Mr Esper said all US troops leaving Syria will go to western Iraq and the American military will continue operations against the IS group. The troops are not coming home and the United States is not leaving the Middle East, according to plans outlined by Mr Esper before he arrived in Afghanistan on Sunday.
The fight in Syria against IS, once spearheaded by American-allied Syrian Kurds who have been cast aside by Mr Trump, will be undertaken by
US forces, possibly from neighbouring Iraq.
Mr Esper did not rule out the idea that US forces would conduct counterterrorism missions from Iraq into Syria. But he told reporters travelling with him that those details will be worked out over time.
Mr Trump nonetheless tweeted: “USA soldiers are not in combat or ceasefire zones. We have secured the Oil. Bringing soldiers home!”
The Republican president has declared Washington had no stake in defending the Kurdish fighters who died by the thousands as America’s partners fighting in Syria against IS extremists.
Turkey conducted a week-long offensive into north-eastern Syria against the Kurdish fighters before a military pause.
“It’s time for us to come home,” Mr Trump said, defending his removal of US troops from that part of Syria and praising his decision to send more troops and military equipment to Saudi Arabia to help the kingdom defend against Iran.
Meanwhile, residents of a Kurdish-dominated city pelted departing US military vehicles with potatoes yesterday as they drove through. As the convoy of armoured vehicles drove through the north-eastern city of Qamishli, people in the street hurled potatoes, shouting “America liar” in English.