- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Pompeo: US Troops to Withdraw From Syria, Continue Anti-Daesh Fight

© AP Photo / Hussein MallaIn this picture taken Thursday, March 29, 2018, U.S. soldiers, left, sit on a house that turned to an outpost on a road leading to the tense front line between U.S-backed Syrian Manbij Military Council fighters and Turkish-backed fighters, at Halawanji village, north of Manbij town, Syria
In this picture taken Thursday, March 29, 2018, U.S. soldiers, left, sit on a house that turned to an outpost on a road leading to the tense front line between U.S-backed Syrian Manbij Military Council fighters and Turkish-backed fighters, at Halawanji village, north of Manbij town, Syria - Sputnik International
Subscribe
On 19 December, US President Donald Trump announced victory over Daesh in Syria, adding that the fight against the terrorist group was the only reason the United States remained in Syria.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo commented at a joint press conference in Cairo on the US troops withdrawal from Syria and Washington's plans in the Middle East.

America is a "force of good" in the Middle East, Pompeo said. He also claimed that "when America retreats, chaos follows."

"For those who fret about the use of American power, remember: America has always been a liberating force, not an occupying power, in the Middle East. We've never dreamed of domination. Can you say the same of the Iranian regime?" the US secretary of state said.

He added that the United States will withdraw its troops from Syria while continuing to finish the battle against Daesh terrorists.

"The threat from radical Islamic terrorism is real. ISIS continues, we fight them in many regions around the country. Our commitment to continuing to prevent Daesh* growth… is real… We will continue at that. We're going to do it, in a way, in one particular place — Syria — differently. The United States' decision, President [Donald] Trump's decision, to withdraw our troops has been made. We will do that," Pompeo said at a press conference in Egypt.

Mike Pompeo stressed that the US will continue to carry out airstrikes in the Middle East as targets arise.

"Our airstrikes in the region will continue as targets arise," Pompeo said in a keynote address in Cairo, according prepared remarks released by the the State Department.

READ MORE: Trump Defends 'Slow' Withdrawal of US Troops From Syria

People gesture at a US military vehicle in Amuda province, northern Syria - Sputnik International
Eyewitnesses Say US Troops Remain in Syrian City of Manbij, Continue Patrol
He added that Washington remained a steadfast partner in the Middle East.

Withdrawal of US Troops From Syria

Earlier in December, media reported that Trump had ordered the Pentagon to develop a plan to withdraw about half of the 14,000 US troops in Afghanistan, coinciding with the president's announcement that 2,000 American military personnel were set to leave Syria.

According to US officials, the pull-out of the US troops, with their number exceeding 2,000, will take from 60 to 100 days.

However, Trump's decision to withdraw troops from Syria was criticised by several US officials and resulted in two high-profile resignations — US Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis, who announced that his views were no longer aligned with Trump's, and Brett McGurk, special presidential envoy for the US coalition in Syria.

*Daesh (also known as ISIS/ISIL/IS) is a terrorist group banned in Russia

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала