US Sends Additional Troops to Syria Ahead of Pullout
The US military has moved additional troops into
Syria in recent days to help provide protection to other American service
members as they withdraw under President Donald Trump's directive to pullout
all his country’s troops from there, two US defense officials told CNN.
The officials would not reveal where in the country
the troops are or how many have been sent, it said.
Defense officials have acknowledged that a security
force of armed troops -- possibly infantry -- would be needed to help carry out
the withdrawal of US forces over time, said the report.
The Pentagon officials said the additional security
forces may move around Syria to different locations as needed and may move in
and out of the country at times.
They would not indicate if any troop withdrawals
have taken place or will happen in the immediate future, citing security
concerns.
The news comes after ISIS claimed responsibility for
a deadly explosion that killed four Americans and at least 10 other people in
the Syrian city of Manbij last week.
Trump’s decision to withdraw from the war-torn
country has left Kurdish and Arab fighters known as the Syrian Democratic
Forces, or SDF, exposed.
The SDF has been among the most effective forces in
the battle with ISIS but is under threat as Turkey threatens a new offensive in
Syria.
