Jan 11, 2019 - Politics & Policy

U.S. military has begun Syria withdrawal process

Stef W. Kight

Armored vehicles with American flags flying from them. — Armored vehicles of Turkish and U.S. troops in northern Syria. Photo: Turkish Armed Forces/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The U.S. military has begun the process for withdrawing its 2,000 troops in Syria, Col. Sean Ryan, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State, told the AP.

Details: A defense official told the AP that no troops have been withdrawn yet, but equipment is being pulled out. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which covers the Syrian war from the ground, says a convoy of armored vehicles left a northeastern town in Syria on Thursday night.

The big picture: Trump's tweet announcing that he would withdraw U.S. troops from Syria was met with widespread backlash from congressional Republicans and Democrats as well as defense experts. Defense Secretary James Mattis resigned shortly after, and Turkey has threatened to attack the Kurds. Trump has since agreed to withdraw at a slower pace, instead of in 30 days.

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U.S. military has begun Syria withdrawal process

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