U.S.-Led Coalition: Withdrawal of Forces from Syria Has Begun

A spokesperson for the U.S.-led international coalition stated on Friday that the process of withdrawing coalition forces from Syria has begun. This is seen as a sign of the withdrawal of American troops despite contradictory explanations from U.S. officials. According to Reuters, Donald Trump, the President of the United States, announced last month that two thousand American soldiers would be leaving Syria. This decision surprised senior U.S. officials, leading to Defense Secretary Jim Mattis resigning in protest. Trump stated that Erdogan promised to eliminate the remaining ISIS forces in Syria. Colonel Sean Ryan, spokesperson for the U.S.-led coalition, said, 'The voluntary withdrawal of forces from Syria has begun. For security reasons, we will not announce the timing, location, or method of troop movements.' The Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported that the Russian government believes that contrary to Trump's decision, the U.S. intends to remain in Syria. Residents of villages near the border crossings between Syria and Iraq, which American forces typically use, reported that they did not see any movement of American troops on Friday. The U.S. decision to withdraw from Syria has added uncertainties regarding the future of the eight-year civil war in the country, and extensive diplomatic contacts have been established regarding how to fill the vacuum left by the withdrawal of American troops from large areas in northern and eastern Syria. On one hand, Turkey wants to attack Kurdish armed groups that have been the main U.S. allies in the fight against ISIS, while on the other hand, Syrian government forces, supported by Russia and Iran, see conditions favorable for reclaiming a large part of the country. Reuters adds that John Bolton, U.S. National Security Advisor, stated that the protection of Syrian Kurds is one of the important preconditions for the withdrawal of American troops. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan strongly rejected Bolton's remarks, describing them as 'a serious mistake.' Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State, during his current trip to Middle Eastern countries, emphasized Washington's commitment to regional security and stated on Thursday that despite Turkey's threats, the withdrawal of American troops from Syria will not be canceled. Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said that given the withdrawal of American forces, establishing contact and dialogue between Syrian Kurds and the Syrian government is of great importance. She added that areas previously under American control should be transferred to the Syrian government. The Turkish government considers Syrian Kurdish armed groups as a branch of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and labels them as terrorists.