Iran Press/America: Speaking at the Pentagon’s last press briefing of the year, Esper was asked when 600 US troops will leave Syria. He replied: “I think we're there as long as we can ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS."
According to a report Al-Monitor, Esper confirmed that US military forces will be in Syria for the foreseeable future, and President Donald Trump's much-hyped withdrawal from Syria now seems completely irrelevant and forgotten. The Pentagon has long insisted that the US troop presence in Syria will be “conditions-based”.
Esper’s inability to answer for the timeline possibly indicates that the plan to shift more forces away from the Middle East could face delays,
It should also be noted that the Trump administration has deployed 14,000 US troops to the region since May -- mainly to Saudi Arabia -- because of rising tensions with Iran.
President Donald Trump is set to sign the annual US defense authorization bill that will provide more Pentagon funding for America's never-ending wars abroad. 101/211
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