Sign up for our daily briefing
Make your busy days simpler with Axios AM/PM. Catch up on what's new and why it matters in just 5 minutes.
Catch up on the day's biggest business stories
Subscribe to Axios Closer for insights into the day’s business news and trends and why they matter
Stay on top of the latest market trends
Subscribe to Axios Markets for the latest market trends and economic insights. Sign up for free.
Sports news worthy of your time
Binge on the stats and stories that drive the sports world with Axios Sports. Sign up for free.
Tech news worthy of your time
Get our smart take on technology from the Valley and D.C. with Axios Login. Sign up for free.
Get the inside stories
Get an insider's guide to the new White House with Axios Sneak Peek. Sign up for free.
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Want a daily digest of the top Denver news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Denver
Want a daily digest of the top Des Moines news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Des Moines
Want a daily digest of the top Twin Cities news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Twin Cities
Want a daily digest of the top Tampa Bay news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Tampa Bay
Want a daily digest of the top Charlotte news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Charlotte
Want a daily digest of the top Nashville news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with the Axios Nashville newsletter.
Want a daily digest of the top Columbus news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with the Axios Columbus newsletter.
Want a daily digest of the top Dallas news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with the Axios Dallas newsletter.
Sign up for Axios NW Arkansas
Stay up-to-date on the most important and interesting stories affecting NW Arkansas, authored by local reporters
Militant photo via AP
Trump is ending the covert CIA operation to arm and train anti-Assad rebels in Syria, The Washington Post reports. The program will end over a period of a few months, officials said.
Why it matters: Russia has long wanted this program to end, since it wasn't aligned with its interests — it was part of the Obama administration's program to try and push Assad out of power. Officials said this move shows Trump's looking for ways to work with Russia, and acting on them. One U.S. official told WashPost: "This is a momentous decision…Putin won in Syria."
Officials added Trump made the decision about a month ago just before his July 7 meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but that it was not part of the ceasefire agreements. Note: this is not going to affect the U.S.-backed effort to fight ISIS in the region.
Some analysts said this would likely empower radical groups inside Syria and damage America's credibility in the region. Ilan Goldberg, the director of the Middle East Program at the CNAS said "it's probably a nod to reality" that Assad is entrenched in Syria.
One former White House official said that "To give [the program] away without getting anything in return would be foolish."
Spokesmen for the CIA and the National Security Council declined to comment.