DOD drafts plans to withdraw U.S. forces from Syria
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The U.S. Department of Defense is drafting plans for a full withdrawal from Syria, NBC News reported on Wednesday.
Citing U.S. defense officials, the report said that the Pentagon is actively working on a strategy to withdraw all American forces from Syria.
Currently, about 2000 U.S. troops are stationed in Syria, working alongside the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS).
Officials noted that President Donald Trump and his close advisors have recently shown renewed interest in pulling U.S. forces out of Syria.
According to NBC, Trump’s push for withdrawal has prompted Pentagon officials to develop plans for a complete withdrawal within 30, 60, or 90 days.
Mike Waltz, the new national security adviser for Trump, visited the U.S. Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Florida, last week. During his visit, he met with senior military leaders and received briefings about the Middle East.
However, a White House official stated that the possible reduction of U.S. troops in Syria was not discussed and was not the reason for Waltz’s visit.