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Trump in December ordered a withdrawal of the 2,000 American
troops in Syria, saying they had defeated Islamic State
militants there, even as U.S.-backed Syrian forces continued a
final push against the group's last outpost.
But Trump has been under pressure from multiple advisers to
adjust his policy to ensure the protection of Kurdish forces,
who supported the fight against Islamic State and who might now
be threatened by Turkey, and to serve as a bulwark against
Iran's influence.
“A small peacekeeping group of about 200 will remain in Syria
for a period of time,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders
said in a statement.
The decision was announced after Trump spoke by phone to Turkish
President Tayyip Erdogan. A White House statement said the two
leaders agreed, regarding Syria, to "continue coordinating on
the creation of a potential safe zone."
A senior administration official said Trump's decision had been
in the works for some time. It was unclear how long the 200
troops would be expected to remain in the area or where exactly
they would be deployed.
Leaving even a small group of U.S. troops in Syria could pave
the way for European allies to commit hundreds of troops to help
set up and observe a potential safe zone in northeast Syria.
The commander of U.S.-backed Syrian forces has called for 1,000
to 1,500 international troops to remain in the country to help
fight Islamic State and expressed hope the United States, in
particular, would halt plans for a total pullout.
'CLEAR DIRECTION'
The decision to retain peacekeepers could help Trump overcome
criticism that he had ordered a precipitous withdrawal from
Syria that could lead to Islamic State regaining strength.
"This is a clear direction to our allies and coalition members
that we will be on the ground in some capacity," the senior U.S.
administration official said.
Until now, European allies have balked at providing troops
unless they received a firm commitment that Washington was still
committed to the region.
Belgian Defense Minister Didier Reynders told reporters on
Thursday before a meeting with acting Pentagon chief Patrick
Shanahan that the issue of keeping troops in Syria in the future
would be a matter for discussion with U.S. officials.
Turkey wants to set up a safe zone with logistical support from
allies and says it should be cleared of the U.S.-backed Kurdish
YPG militia, which Ankara considers a terrorist group.
The White House did not say where exactly its troops would be
based. In addition to northeast Syria, officials have talked
about the importance of keeping some troops at the strategic
Tanf garrison on the Iraq-Jordan border.
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the
initial plan was to have some troops in northeastern Syria and
some at Tanf. The official said planning was ongoing and could
change.
The Tanf garrison was set up when Islamic State fighters
controlled eastern Syria bordering Iraq. But since the militants
were driven out, Tanf has assumed a role as part of a U.S.
strategy to contain Iran's military buildup.
U.S. officials have told Reuters that while in Munich last week,
Shanahan held a meeting on Syria with a small group of defense
ministers. They talked about needing some sort of security
arrangement in northeast Syria after the United States left.
Shanahan will meet his Turkish counterpart on Friday.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham issued a statement applauding
Trump's decision to keep a small contingent of U.S. troops in
Syria as part of an international stabilizing force, saying the
president had followed sound military advice that would help
avoid the problems the United States faced in Iraq.
(Reporting by Steve Holland and Idrees Ali; Editing by Peter
Cooney and Leslie Adler)
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