US Congress asks President Trump to keep his troops in Syria

About 400 of The US congressmen and 535 senators have sent a letter to the White House urging President Donald Trump not to pull troops out of Syria, and to engage in confronting the threats of the terrorist groups which “threaten the regional allies”.

The letter was signed and sent to President Trump on Monday, which included demands of continuing the American presence in Syria, the congressmen and senators said that they were “very concerned” about “the extremist groups” there.

The letter said, “While some of our closest allies in the region are being threatened, the leadership of the United States and its support play a crucial role as ever.”

The letter also urges President Trump to intensify pressure on Iran and Russia regarding their activities in Syria, as well as the Lebanese Hezbollah group.

Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan said after a briefing on Iran, “We have deterred attacks based on our re-posturing of assets,” stressing that Washington “wants to deter Iran and not to go on a war.”

Congressman Bernie Sanders said Iran continues its aggressive policy in Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq, noting that the Congress has heard a briefing from the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo regarding the Iranian threats and the latter said there were no intentions for war would be waged against Iran, however, he stressed on the United States would respond to any Iranian threat. 

President Trump has stunned the U.S Congressmen, national security aides and his allies alike, by announcing the withdrawal of the 2000 U.S. troops from Syria, on December the 19th. 

While in February, Trump had retracted his decision and agreed to keep a small US military presence in Syria to maintain the pressure on the Islamic State (ISIL), as he claimed.