US General Staff: ‘No Change in Our Syrian Policy’

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In the wake of US President Donald Trump’s statement that “We will withdraw from Syria”, Pentagon has stated that “there is no change in military strategy in Syria”.

Speaking at the press briefing yesterday (April 5), Spokesperson for the General Staff Marine Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie said, “We’ve always thought that as we reach finality against ISIS in Syria we’re going to adjust the level of our presence there, so in that sense nothing actually has changed”, Reuters reported.

“... one of the things that we haven’t been given is a timeline and that is actually very effective ... (The) president has actually been very good in not giving us a specific timeline,” McKenzie said.

Pentagon: Activities in northern Syria have distracted SDG from fight

Another statement was issued by Pentagon Spokesperson Dana White yesterday. Concerning fight against ISIS and developments in northern Syria, White said:

“I've heard rumors of people talking about withdrawal.  I know the president said "very soon," because we have been very successful with defeating ISIS.  But it's not over, and we are committed to ensuring the defeat of ISIS.

“We have always said that our mission in Syria is the defeat of ISIS.  That is nearly here, but it's not done.  And the activities in northern Syria have distracted the SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) from this fight.

“But we continue to be focused on the defeat of ISIS, and ISIS remains a trans-regional threat, and the 71-nation coalition that's fighting ISIS is committed to ensuring that we combat violent extremism wherever it is”. (ŞA/TK)