Nearly 2,000 US troops remain in Syria

By Selen Temizer

ANKARA (AA) - The U.S. maintains nearly 2,000 troops in Syria after announcing it would start withdrawing from Syria in mid-March and leave a few hundreds.

In statements Dec. 19 and 20 last year, U.S. President Donald Trump declared victory over the Daesh terror group, saying its defeat was the sole reason for America’s presence in the country under his administration.

Trump signaled a “slow and highly coordinated pullout” of U.S. troops from Syria following the suggestions of the American national security bureaucracy.

While avoiding a timetable or date when it would be done, the head of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Joseph Votel said Feb. 11 that a pullout would likely begin within weeks, signaling the first steps of the process to be taken in mid-March.

On Feb. 22, Pentagon spokesman Sean Robertson said: "U.S. forces numbering a couple hundred will remain in northeast Syria as part of a multinational force."

"The U.S. will maintain a presence at the al-Tanf garrison in southern Syria," said Robertson.

On Sunday, the U.S.'s top general denied a report suggesting military plans to keep roughly half of its 2,000 troops stationed in Syria following a withdrawal Trump described in December as immediate and complete.

Dunford insisted there has been no change to the planned 400 troops the White House announced last month.

The White House announced in February the administration is planning to keep 200 American troops in northeastern Syria as part of an international peacekeeping force, in addition to 200 troops that were supposed to be used to secure a garrison at a strategic Syrian border town.

However, according to local sources in Syria, although the date for pullout set by Votel expired, the U.S. did not begin to reduce its military power in Syria.

On the contrary, 300 trucks were sent to the regions occupied by YPG/PKK terrorists in Syria from the Iraqi side at the beginning of and the end of February.

On Feb 4, the U.S. delivered nearly 150 truckloads of armored vehicles and equipment to the depot belonging to YPG/PKK terrorists in Harab Isk and Sarrin villages.

- Supports to YPG/PKK terrorists

On Feb. 20, in a statement, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington would continue to fight Daesh and would work with local forces by referring to the YPG/PKK.

On the same day, answering a question on taking back weapons given by the U.S. to YPG, Robertson said SDG became an effective and reliable partner in the fight against ISIS.

The SDG refers to the Syria Democratic Forces group that comprises Kurdish and Arab fighters battling Daesh. The YPG is the military wing of PYD, which is the Syrian affiliate of the terrorist PKK organization.

The weapons given to SDG are limited, Robertson said, adding the U.S. would continue to support its partner SDG while the SDG is clearing Syrian territories from ISIS and preventing Daesh from coming to existence again.

The clearing of northeastern Syria is about to be completed but there is more work to be done, he added.

On March 12, the Pentagon announced a total of $300 million would be allocated to the YPG/PKK from its defense budget for fiscal year 2020 while $250 million would be given to countries bordering Syria to ensure border security in the fight against Deash.

U.S. Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Elaine McCusker claimed support fund for the YPG/PKK was prepared in the light of the updated strategy.

The budget has been prepared on the basis of information available at the stage of preparation, said Director for the Force Structure, Resources, and Assessment of the U.S. joint chiefs of staff, Anthony R. Ierardi said.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women and children. The PYD/YPG is its Syrian branch.

*Writing by Faruk Zorlu