Pentagon: Up to 1,000 U.S. Troops to Withdraw from Northern Syria

Washington (AFP) – The Pentagon said Sunday President Donald Trump had ordered the withdrawal of up to 1,000 troops from northern Syria — almost the entire ground force in war-torn country — amid an intensifying Turkish assault on Kurdish forces.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the move came after the US learned that Turkey was pressing further into Syria than had been expected.

And the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are seeking a deal with the Syrian regime and Russia to counter-attack against the Turks in the north, Esper added.

“We find ourselves as we have American forces likely caught between two opposing advancing armies and it’s a very untenable situation,” Esper told CBS’s Face the Nation.

“So I spoke with the president last night after discussions with the rest of the national security team and he directed that we begin a deliberate withdrawal of forces from northern Syria.”

Vindman’s call to release Trump–MBS transcript reopens old questions in US–Saudi relationship

Heavily redacted voting records for school superintendent nabbed by ICE spark outrage

Hundreds of Christians Abducted in Largest Mass Kidnapping in Nigerian History Amid Country’s Anti-Christian Slaughter

Trans Cult Leader’s Attorney Scolds DOJ for Misgendering Him

Trump caps week of surprises — signing release of Epstein files, embracing unlikely allies at White House

Former Missouri substitute teacher gets 10 years for trading students money, drugs for sex

Trump, Kirk shootings expose online hate breeding lone-wolf assassins, experts warn

Trump administration expands efforts to stop Christian violence in Nigeria with aid threat

Watch Fox News’ Martha MacCallum Grill Dem Who Told Military to Defy Trump

Five Billion Dollars Off: California Officials Admit They Botched Deficit Estimate By Billions

Trump says Dems who told military to defy illegal orders committed ‘sedition at the highest level’

Texas National Guard to return from Illinois ahead of Thanksgiving, Gov Abbott says

Texas A&M committee finds professor’s firing over transgender-related lesson unjustified

Man fatally shot, woman and children in critical condition after Arizona shootout

President says Chicagoans are ‘chanting bring in Trump’ after violent downtown riot leaves 8 shot, 1 dead

Esper said he was unable to provide a timeline because of the rapidly changing situation on the ground, but added that the withdrawal would be carried out in a “very safe, deliberate manner.”

“Look it’s a very terrible situation over there. A situation caused by the Turks… Despite our opposition they decided to make this incursion into Syria,” Esper told CBS.

“And at this point in time in the last 24 hours we learned that they likely intend to expand their attack further south than originally planned and to the west

“We also have learned in the last 24 hours that the… SDF are looking to cut a deal, if you will, with the Syrians and the Russians to counter-attack against the Turks in the north.”

– ‘Immediate defensive action’ –

Asked if troops would be leaving the country altogether, Esper clarified that the withdrawal was just from northern Syria, “which is where most of our forces are.”