US to withdraw troops from Syria as tensions mount with Iran

Source: BBC

11 hours ago


The US is preparing to largely withdraw its remaining troops from Syria over the next few months, a senior White House official has told the BBC. The official said the Syrian government had agreed to take the lead combatting terrorism within its borders and US military presence "at scale" was no longer required.

American troops have been in Syria since 2015, as part of an anti-terrorism campaign to counter the influence of the Islamic State group (IS). The decision came as US President Donald Trump ramps up military presence in the Middle East while tensions mount with Iran. The official noted that the decision to remove the roughly 1,000 remaining troops from Syria is part of a conditions-based transition, and that the US remains ready to respond to any threats in the region.

The news comes amid an increased presence of US troops in the region, specifically near Iran. BBC Verify has confirmed the location of aircraft carrier the USS Abraham Lincoln - equipped with guided missile destroyers and dozens of fighter jets - near Iran.

The US has also reportedly sent the USS Gerald R Ford, the world's largest warship, to the Middle East, expected to arrive in the region within the next three weeks.

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c875pey8vy2o