Trump withdraws US troops from Syria amid Iran tensions
Photo: US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
The US plans to withdraw the remainder of its military contingent from Syria in the coming months, as Damascus no longer needs it as urgently as before, according to the BBC.
According to a senior White House official, Damascus has agreed to take on the fight against terrorism within the country on its own, so the US presence on such a scale is no longer necessary.
The US military has been in Syria since 2015 as part of the campaign against the Islamic State group. There are about a thousand troops remaining in the country.
The decision to withdraw them, according to the official, is part of a transition process and depends on certain conditions being met. At the same time, the US remains ready to respond quickly to possible threats in the region.
Against this backdrop, Washington is increasing its military presence in the Middle East due to growing tensions with Iran. The media has confirmed the presence of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln with missile destroyers and dozens of fighter jets near Iran.
The US has also sent its largest Navy ship, the Gerald R. Ford, to the region, which is expected to arrive within three weeks.
The US Army is preparing a military operation in Iran in the near future. The media is currently discussing its scale.
Washington is deploying additional air defense systems in the Middle East to protect US military bases and allies in the event of possible strikes by Iran.
According to CBS News, Donald Trump said that the US military could be ready for potential strikes on Iran as early as Saturday, but no final decision has been made yet.
