US begins process of pulling out from Syria

US President Donald Trump announced on December 19 that he had decided to withdraw the 2,000 US troops in the battle against Islamic State militants in Syria.

Trump said that they (US) have defeated ISIS in Syria, which was his only reason for being there during his Presidency.

The US-led coalition battling Islamic State added to the US withdrawal confusion on January 11 by saying it had started the pullout process, but officials later clarified that only equipment, not troops, were being withdrawn.

Trump's announcement stunned his allies generating a mixed response worldwide.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel will study a US decision to pull its forces from Syria and will ensure its own security.

France decided to keep troops in northern Syria because Islamic State militants have not been wiped out yet.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he backed US counterpart Donald Trump's decision and declared it 'right'.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that US decision to withdraw troops will not jeopardise Washington's efforts to counter threats in the region, which come from Iran and Islamic State.

US special envoy for the global coalition to defeat ISIS, Brett McGurk, submitted his resignation as a result of 'strong disagreement' with withdrawal of US troops. 

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, a retired Marine Corps general who was known as a stabilizing force in President Donald Trump's Cabinet decided to resign a day after the announcement.

Turkey's defence minister Hulusi Akar on Friday pledged to wage a campaign against a US-backed Syrian Kurdish militia. 

Turkey and the United States, although NATO allies are deeply divided over the implementation of  Trump's plan for troop withdrawal.

The plan hinges on Turkish cooperation to secure a swathe of northeast Syria as the United States departs.