A bomb attack claimed by <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-15-dead-in-suicide-attack-targeting-us-led-coalition-in-syria-190785">Islamic State killed US troops</a> in northern Syria on Wednesday, weeks after President Donald Trump said group was defeated there and he would pull out all American forces.

A US official who declined to be named said four US troops had been killed and three wounded in the blast, which an Islamic State-affiliated site said was the work of a suicide bomber. Others said only two had been killed.

The US-led coalition fighting the Islamist militant group said that "US service members were killed during an explosion while conducting a routine patrol", and that it was still gathering details.

The attack, which took place in the town of Manbij, controlled by rebels opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, appears to be the deadliest on US&nbsp;forces in Syria since they deployed on the ground there in 2015.

A Pentagon spokeswoman said that only two US troops had previously been killed in action in Syria. There were two additional non-combat fatalities.

Last month, US President Donald Trump made a surprise announcement that he would withdraw all 2,000 US troops from Syria after concluding that Islamic State had been defeated there.

The announcement helped trigger the resignation of his defence secretary, Jim Mattis, stunned allies and raised fears of a long-threatened Turkish military offensive against US-backed Kurdish forces in northern Syria.

RESTAURANT ATTACKED

A witness in the city said the attack had targeted a restaurant where US personnel were meeting members of the local militia that Washington backs there.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said 16 people had been killed in all, including two Americans. A militia source in north Syria also said two US troops had been killed.

Islamic State later put out a statement saying a Syrian fighter had detonated his explosive vest on a foreign patrol in Manbij.

Two witnesses described the blast to Reuters.

"An explosion hit near a restaurant, targeting the Americans, and there were some forces from the Manbij Military Council with them," one said.

The Manbij Military Council militia has controlled the town since US-backed Kurdish-led forces took it from Islamic State in 2016. It is located near areas held by Russian-backed Syrian government forces and by anti-Assad fighters backed by Turkey.

One of the witnesses said there was a "heavy" presence of military aircraft over Manbij following the blast, which took place near a vegetable market.

Photographs on a local Kurdish news site, which Reuters could not verify, showed two mutilated bodies, several other bodies lying on the ground with people gathered around them, damage to a building and vehicles, and blood smears on a wall.

It was unclear whether the attack might influence Trump’s decision to give more time for the US withdrawal, a conflict he has tired of and described as “sand and death”.

A bomb attack claimed by Islamic State killed US troops in northern Syria on Wednesday, weeks after President Donald Trump said group was defeated there and he would pull out all American forces.

A bomb attack claimed by Islamic State killed US troops in northern Syria on Wednesday, weeks after President Donald Trump said group was defeated there and he would pull out all American forces. A US official who declined to be named said four US troops had been killed and three wounded in the blast, which an Islamic State-affiliated site said was the work of a suicide bomber. Others said only two had been killed. The US-led coalition fighting the Islamist militant group said that "US service members were killed during an explosion while conducting a routine patrol", and that it was still gathering details. The attack, which took place in the town of Manbij, controlled by rebels opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, appears to be the deadliest on US forces in Syria since they deployed on the ground there in 2015. A Pentagon spokeswoman said that only two US troops had previously been killed in action in Syria. There were two additional non-combat fatalities. Last month, US President Donald Trump made a surprise announcement that he would withdraw all 2,000 US troops from Syria after concluding that Islamic State had been defeated there. The announcement helped trigger the resignation of his defence secretary, Jim Mattis, stunned allies and raised fears of a long-threatened Turkish military offensive against US-backed Kurdish forces in northern Syria. RESTAURANT ATTACKED A witness in the city said the attack had targeted a restaurant where US personnel were meeting members of the local militia that Washington backs there. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said 16 people had been killed in all, including two Americans. A militia source in north Syria also said two US troops had been killed. Islamic State later put out a statement saying a Syrian fighter had detonated his explosive vest on a foreign patrol in Manbij. Two witnesses described the blast to Reuters. "An explosion hit near a restaurant, targeting the Americans, and there were some forces from the Manbij Military Council with them," one said. The Manbij Military Council militia has controlled the town since US-backed Kurdish-led forces took it from Islamic State in 2016. It is located near areas held by Russian-backed Syrian government forces and by anti-Assad fighters backed by Turkey. One of the witnesses said there was a "heavy" presence of military aircraft over Manbij following the blast, which took place near a vegetable market. Photographs on a local Kurdish news site, which Reuters could not verify, showed two mutilated bodies, several other bodies lying on the ground with people gathered around them, damage to a building and vehicles, and blood smears on a wall. It was unclear whether the attack might influence Trump’s decision to give more time for the US withdrawal, a conflict he has tired of and described as “sand and death”.

Four US troops reported among 16 dead in north Syria attack

A suicide attack claimed by the Islamic State group killed 15 people including a US serviceman Wednesday in the northern Syrian city of Manbij near the Turkish border, a monitor said.

Nine civilians and five US-backed fighters were among the dead in the attack on a restaurant in the flashpoint city, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Rubble littered the outside of the eatery in the city centre, footage from a Kurdish news agency showed, and its facade was blackened by the blast.

The Britain-based Observatory, which relies on a network of sources in Syria, said it was the first such suicide attack in the city against the US-led coalition fighting IS in 10 months.

The bombing came as Kurds who control a large swathe of northern Syria rejected a Turkish plan to set up a "security zone" on the Syrian side of the border.

Almost eight years into Syria's civil war, Turkey has repeatedly threatened to attack Syrian Kurdish fighters it views as "terrorists" on its southern flank.

Washington, which has relied heavily on the Kurds in its campaign against IS in Syria, has sought guarantees for their safety after President Donald Trump suddenly announced a US troop pullout last month.

On Tuesday, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara would set up a "security zone" in northern Syria following a suggestion by Trump.

The planned buffer would embrace a large swathe of the autonomous region the Kurds have established in northern and northeastern Syria.

Senior Kurdish political leader Aldar Khalil said any Turkish deployment in Kurdish-held areas was "unacceptable".

'Safe zone'

He said the Kurds would accept the deployment of UN forces along a separation line between Kurdish fighters and Turkish troops to ward off the threatened offensive.

But "other choices are unacceptable as they infringe on the sovereignty of Syria and the sovereignty of our autonomous region," Khalil told AFP.

Ankara has welcomed Washington's planned withdrawal of some 2,000 US troops from Syria but the future of US-backed Kurdish fighters has poisoned relations between the NATO allies.

On Monday, Erdogan had a telephone conversation with Trump to ease tensions after the US leader threatened to "devastate" the Turkish economy if Ankara attacks Kurdish forces in Syria, and called for a "safe zone".

The Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) have been the key US ally in the fight against IS.

They have taken heavy losses in a campaign now nearing its conclusion, with the jihadists confined to an ever-shrinking enclave of just 15 square kilometres (under six square miles).

The shock announcement of a US withdrawal has sent the Kurds scrambling to seek a new ally in Damascus, which has long rejected Kurdish self-rule.

With military backing from Russia since 2015, President Bashar al-Assad's government has made huge gains against the jihadists and rebels, and now controls almost two-thirds of the country.

A northwestern enclave held by jihadists and pockets held by Turkish troops and their allies remain beyond its reach, along with the much larger Kurdish region.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the Syrian government must take control of the north.

"The best and only solution is the transfer of these territories under the control of the Syrian government, and of Syrian security forces and administrative structures," Lavrov said.&nbsp;

'US clarification'

The head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, another key ally of the Damascus regime, said it would not withdraw any forces from Syria, dismissing Israel threats.&nbsp;

Erdogan said he had a "quite positive" telephone conversation with Trump late on Monday in which he reaffirmed that "a 20-mile (30 kilometre) security zone along the Syrian border... will be set up by us."

The Syrian Kurdish leader said Turkey was the wrong choice to oversee the mooted "security zone".

"Trump wants to implement these safe regions through cooperation with Turkey. But any role for Turkey will upset the balance and the region will not be safe," Khalil said.

The Turkish army has launched two major operations in Syria -- in 2016 against IS jihadists and Syrian Kurdish fighters, and in 2018 targeting the Kurds.&nbsp;

The last offensive saw Turkish troops and their Syrian rebel allies overrun the Kurdish enclave of Afrin in the northwest, one of several the Kurds had governed since 2012.

Critics have accused Turkish troops and their proxies of military occupation of Syrian sovereign territory.

Ankara has spoken of a YPG-free "security zone" under its control, but it is not clear if Washington has the same details in mind.

Analyst Mutlu Civiroglu said it was not immediately clear what the US president meant by a "safe zone", or who he thought would patrol it.

Analysts were "waiting for a clarification from Washington to see what the president really meant", he told AFP.

A suicide attack claimed by the Islamic State group killed 15 people including a US serviceman Wednesday in the northern Syrian city of Manbij near the Turkish border, a monitor said.

A suicide attack claimed by the Islamic State group killed 15 people including a US serviceman Wednesday in the northern Syrian city of Manbij near the Turkish border, a monitor said. Nine civilians and five US-backed fighters were among the dead in the attack on a restaurant in the flashpoint city, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Rubble littered the outside of the eatery in the city centre, footage from a Kurdish news agency showed, and its facade was blackened by the blast. The Britain-based Observatory, which relies on a network of sources in Syria, said it was the first such suicide attack in the city against the US-led coalition fighting IS in 10 months. The bombing came as Kurds who control a large swathe of northern Syria rejected a Turkish plan to set up a "security zone" on the Syrian side of the border. Almost eight years into Syria's civil war, Turkey has repeatedly threatened to attack Syrian Kurdish fighters it views as "terrorists" on its southern flank. Washington, which has relied heavily on the Kurds in its campaign against IS in Syria, has sought guarantees for their safety after President Donald Trump suddenly announced a US troop pullout last month. On Tuesday, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara would set up a "security zone" in northern Syria following a suggestion by Trump. The planned buffer would embrace a large swathe of the autonomous region the Kurds have established in northern and northeastern Syria. Senior Kurdish political leader Aldar Khalil said any Turkish deployment in Kurdish-held areas was "unacceptable". 'Safe zone' He said the Kurds would accept the deployment of UN forces along a separation line between Kurdish fighters and Turkish troops to ward off the threatened offensive. But "other choices are unacceptable as they infringe on the sovereignty of Syria and the sovereignty of our autonomous region," Khalil told AFP. Ankara has welcomed Washington's planned withdrawal of some 2,000 US troops from Syria but the future of US-backed Kurdish fighters has poisoned relations between the NATO allies. On Monday, Erdogan had a telephone conversation with Trump to ease tensions after the US leader threatened to "devastate" the Turkish economy if Ankara attacks Kurdish forces in Syria, and called for a "safe zone". The Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) have been the key US ally in the fight against IS. They have taken heavy losses in a campaign now nearing its conclusion, with the jihadists confined to an ever-shrinking enclave of just 15 square kilometres (under six square miles). The shock announcement of a US withdrawal has sent the Kurds scrambling to seek a new ally in Damascus, which has long rejected Kurdish self-rule. With military backing from Russia since 2015, President Bashar al-Assad's government has made huge gains against the jihadists and rebels, and now controls almost two-thirds of the country. A northwestern enclave held by jihadists and pockets held by Turkish troops and their allies remain beyond its reach, along with the much larger Kurdish region. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the Syrian government must take control of the north. "The best and only solution is the transfer of these territories under the control of the Syrian government, and of Syrian security forces and administrative structures," Lavrov said. 'US clarification' The head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, another key ally of the Damascus regime, said it would not withdraw any forces from Syria, dismissing Israel threats. Erdogan said he had a "quite positive" telephone conversation with Trump late on Monday in which he reaffirmed that "a 20-mile (30 kilometre) security zone along the Syrian border... will be set up by us." The Syrian Kurdish leader said Turkey was the wrong choice to oversee the mooted "security zone". "Trump wants to implement these safe regions through cooperation with Turkey. But any role for Turkey will upset the balance and the region will not be safe," Khalil said. The Turkish army has launched two major operations in Syria -- in 2016 against IS jihadists and Syrian Kurdish fighters, and in 2018 targeting the Kurds. The last offensive saw Turkish troops and their Syrian rebel allies overrun the Kurdish enclave of Afrin in the northwest, one of several the Kurds had governed since 2012. Critics have accused Turkish troops and their proxies of military occupation of Syrian sovereign territory. Ankara has spoken of a YPG-free "security zone" under its control, but it is not clear if Washington has the same details in mind. Analyst Mutlu Civiroglu said it was not immediately clear what the US president meant by a "safe zone", or who he thought would patrol it. Analysts were "waiting for a clarification from Washington to see what the president really meant", he told AFP.

At least 15 dead in suicide attack targeting US-led coalition in Syria

Iran will keep military forces in Syria, the head of the elite Revolutionary Guards said on Wednesday, defying <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/netanyahu-tells-iran-to-get-out-of-syria-fast-or-face-continued-attacks-190478">Israeli threats</a> that they might be targeted if they do not leave the country.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Israeli forces would continue to attack Iranians in Syria unless they quickly get out of there.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran will keep its military advisers, revolutionary forces and its weapons in Syria," Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, the Revolutionary Guards top commander, was quoted as saying by the semi-official ISNA news agency. Jafari called Netanyahu's threats "a joke", and warned that the Israeli government "was playing with (a) lion's tail."

"You should be afraid of the day that our precision-guided missiles roar and fall on your head," he said.

Iran and Russia have both backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a seven-year war against rebels and militants, and have sent thousands of soldiers to the country.

Israel, increasingly concerned that its enemy Iran may establish a long-term military presence in neighbouring Syria, says it has carried out more than 200 attacks against Iranian targets in Syria in the last two years.

Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israeli warplanes carried out an attack on what he called an Iranian arms cache in Syria.

Iran will keep military forces in Syria, the head of the elite Revolutionary Guards said on Wednesday, defying Israeli threats that they might be targeted if they do not leave the country.

Iran will keep military forces in Syria, the head of the elite Revolutionary Guards said on Wednesday, defying Israeli threats that they might be targeted if they do not leave the country. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Israeli forces would continue to attack Iranians in Syria unless they quickly get out of there. "The Islamic Republic of Iran will keep its military advisers, revolutionary forces and its weapons in Syria," Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, the Revolutionary Guards top commander, was quoted as saying by the semi-official ISNA news agency. Jafari called Netanyahu's threats "a joke", and warned that the Israeli government "was playing with (a) lion's tail." "You should be afraid of the day that our precision-guided missiles roar and fall on your head," he said. Iran and Russia have both backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a seven-year war against rebels and militants, and have sent thousands of soldiers to the country. Israel, increasingly concerned that its enemy Iran may establish a long-term military presence in neighbouring Syria, says it has carried out more than 200 attacks against Iranian targets in Syria in the last two years. Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israeli warplanes carried out an attack on what he called an Iranian arms cache in Syria.

Will keep military forces in Syria despite Israeli threats, says Iran

There’s one thing Turkey and the US can definitely agree on these days: Unreliability is now the bedrock of their relationship. It’s perhaps not surprising when the two powers are led by notably unpredictable men — US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

In the latest antagonism, Erdogan’s close adviser, Yasin Aktay, has spoken of the US as a “highly unreliable partner” due to its efforts to safeguard the Syrian Kurdish forces who have partnered with the US in defeating the Islamic State (IS) in Syria.

The criticism is a further illustration of the echo chambers in which diplomacy is being conducted at the moment. Far from seeking to reduce friction (the usual role of diplomacy), such statements are part of the new prickly nationalism that is everywhere in the ascendant.

The most glaring dimension of Aktay’s statement is its subjectivity. Trump’s announcement in December 2018 of the US troop withdrawal from Syria really did put America’s Syrian Kurdish allies in potential harm’s way, at the hands of the Turkish army. The recent move to safeguard that ally could be viewed, in fact, as reliability.

But of course, Atkay is speaking from within the echo chamber of Turkish politics. Within that chamber, the US has deserted its NATO ally in favour of a Syrian Kurdish militia with strong ties to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) — a movement within Turkey designated a terrorist organisation.

His assessment discounts the fact that the threat from IS was very real. The US needed local allies on the ground in order to counter it. Indeed, it was a long time before the Turkish government decided to give the fight against the Islamic State the same priority that it gave the fight against Kurdish groups.

Yet the Turkish displeasure with its NATO ally is not all paranoia and blinkered Turkish nationalism. President Trump has been cavalier in his diplomacy within the international body. He has also been transparently shortsighted in his engagement with the Middle East.

In line with his “America First” policies, Trump was quick to single out IS as a grave threat to be addressed, largely because it had the capacity to impact America itself and American lives. Trump and his predecessor, Barack Obama, have been far less eager to address Syria’s civil war.

From the Turkish viewpoint, this looks a lot like abandonment. The war on its southern frontier has been highly porous. It has deeply impacted Turkey in terms of terrorist atrocities, refugee flows, political destabilisation, economic impact and the very real threat of escalation from the Assad regime’s allies, Russia and Iran. None of this seems to have moved the US greatly.

Every man for himself

The result is a zero-sum environment in which all the key actors have gradually amassed leaders who see the best strategy as entrenchment and national defence. This may have been led by Russian President Vladimir Putin — the past master of such tactics — but it has been a domino effect.

President Erdogan has veered sharply in the same direction ever since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011. With the election of Donald Trump to the US presidency in November 2016, the world’s key superpower has followed suit. In the current dispute, the only real losers are likely to be the Kurds.

The Turkish government position has ossified. It cannot easily roll back on its war with the Syrian Kurdish militia now. The US position is more fluid. As President Trump as demonstrated, Washington is quite capable of dropping the Syrian Kurdish militia.

The reason the US government has so far stepped back from leaving the Syrian Kurds at the full mercy of other powers in Syria is not altruism. The Syrian Kurds merely offered the right guns for hire at the right time. But to drop them would hand valuable power to US adversaries.

In the cases of Russia and Iran, that would stick in the craw of the US administration. The irony is, as things stand, the other “adversary” who would clearly benefit is a country — Turkey — that is supposed to be an erstwhile NATO ally and a bulwark in the Middle East.

(Nathaniel Handy is a writer and academic)

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/region/middle_east_north_africa/turkey-us-relations-syrian-kurds-syria-civil-war-islamic-state-world-news-57293/">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

There’s one thing Turkey and the US can definitely agree on these days: Unreliability is now the bedrock of their relationship. It’s perhaps not surprising when the two powers are led by notably unpredictable men — US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

There’s one thing Turkey and the US can definitely agree on these days: Unreliability is now the bedrock of their relationship. It’s perhaps not surprising when the two powers are led by notably unpredictable men — US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In the latest antagonism, Erdogan’s close adviser, Yasin Aktay, has spoken of the US as a “highly unreliable partner” due to its efforts to safeguard the Syrian Kurdish forces who have partnered with the US in defeating the Islamic State (IS) in Syria. The criticism is a further illustration of the echo chambers in which diplomacy is being conducted at the moment. Far from seeking to reduce friction (the usual role of diplomacy), such statements are part of the new prickly nationalism that is everywhere in the ascendant. The most glaring dimension of Aktay’s statement is its subjectivity. Trump’s announcement in December 2018 of the US troop withdrawal from Syria really did put America’s Syrian Kurdish allies in potential harm’s way, at the hands of the Turkish army. The recent move to safeguard that ally could be viewed, in fact, as reliability. But of course, Atkay is speaking from within the echo chamber of Turkish politics. Within that chamber, the US has deserted its NATO ally in favour of a Syrian Kurdish militia with strong ties to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) — a movement within Turkey designated a terrorist organisation. His assessment discounts the fact that the threat from IS was very real. The US needed local allies on the ground in order to counter it. Indeed, it was a long time before the Turkish government decided to give the fight against the Islamic State the same priority that it gave the fight against Kurdish groups. Yet the Turkish displeasure with its NATO ally is not all paranoia and blinkered Turkish nationalism. President Trump has been cavalier in his diplomacy within the international body. He has also been transparently shortsighted in his engagement with the Middle East. In line with his “America First” policies, Trump was quick to single out IS as a grave threat to be addressed, largely because it had the capacity to impact America itself and American lives. Trump and his predecessor, Barack Obama, have been far less eager to address Syria’s civil war. From the Turkish viewpoint, this looks a lot like abandonment. The war on its southern frontier has been highly porous. It has deeply impacted Turkey in terms of terrorist atrocities, refugee flows, political destabilisation, economic impact and the very real threat of escalation from the Assad regime’s allies, Russia and Iran. None of this seems to have moved the US greatly. Every man for himself The result is a zero-sum environment in which all the key actors have gradually amassed leaders who see the best strategy as entrenchment and national defence. This may have been led by Russian President Vladimir Putin — the past master of such tactics — but it has been a domino effect. President Erdogan has veered sharply in the same direction ever since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011. With the election of Donald Trump to the US presidency in November 2016, the world’s key superpower has followed suit. In the current dispute, the only real losers are likely to be the Kurds. The Turkish government position has ossified. It cannot easily roll back on its war with the Syrian Kurdish militia now. The US position is more fluid. As President Trump as demonstrated, Washington is quite capable of dropping the Syrian Kurdish militia. The reason the US government has so far stepped back from leaving the Syrian Kurds at the full mercy of other powers in Syria is not altruism. The Syrian Kurds merely offered the right guns for hire at the right time. But to drop them would hand valuable power to US adversaries. In the cases of Russia and Iran, that would stick in the craw of the US administration. The irony is, as things stand, the other “adversary” who would clearly benefit is a country — Turkey — that is supposed to be an erstwhile NATO ally and a bulwark in the Middle East. (Nathaniel Handy is a writer and academic) (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Why the US is still losing Turkey

US President Donald Trump was reeling from sharp rebukes at home and abroad over his surprise announcement last month to immediately pull American troops out of <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-to-set-up-syria-security-zone-erdogan-190520&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwi1nLiw4PHfAhUbEnIKHeBhBYgQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw1OVjCx2SvnOLtyPsxBW9mW">Syria </a>when he flew into the al Asad airbase in neighbouring Iraq the day after Christmas.

Inside a canvas Quonset hut, one of the arced prefabricated structures used by the military and surrounded by concertina wire, Trump received operational briefs from US commanders suggesting a territorial victory against Islamic State was within sight, but the military needed just a bit more time, US officials said.

"They were upbeat about their ability to wrap things up," one of the officials told Reuters. "I definitely think that was a seminal meeting" in terms of influencing Trump' thinking.

Lieutenant General Paul LaCamera, the commander of the US-led coalition against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, explained to a president who had lost patience with the war why too rapid a withdrawal could not be done without putting troops at risk, according to three officials familiar with the briefing, the contents of which have not been reported in such detail.

In the chaotic aftermath of Trump's December 19 announcement, which was one of the reasons that Defense Secretary Jim Mattis resigned, the 45-minute briefing appears to have helped crystallize an understanding between Trump and his top brass on the ground. Trump, in remarks to reporters, admitted that he felt better about the situation after talking to commanders in the theatre instead of officials in Washington.

The briefing also helped win the US military and diplomats some breathing room to plan a more deliberate exit from Syria.

It was a novel experience for the president, who was making his first visit to a war zone in his nearly two years in office, fresh from a political pummelling over his decision on Syria from fellow Republicans in Congress and US allies.&nbsp;

Nearly three weeks after the briefing, no troops have withdrawn from Syria and only some equipment has moved out.

In 2015, then-President Barack Obama first ordered US special operations forces into Syria after long hesitating to deploy "boots on the ground" in the midst of the Syrian civil war. What started off as a mission involving dozens of commandos eventually turned into hundreds and then just kept growing. There are about 2,000 US forces in Syria today.

Although Trump initially announced plans for a speedy pullout, he has since said it does not need to go quickly.&nbsp;

"We are pulling back in Syria, we are going to be removing our troops, I never said we are doing it that quickly," Trump told reporters at the White House on January 6.

In fact, Trump said on December 19 that American troops were coming home and they had already defeated Islamic State in Syria. No experts believe Islamic State has been defeated, despite the group having lost almost all of the territory it held in 2014 and 2015 after seizing parts of Syria and Iraq and declaring a "caliphate."

The Pentagon said on Friday that the withdrawal "is not subject to an arbitrary timeline," and would take into account conditions on the ground and talks with allies.&nbsp;

Trump's concession of additional time has set off an apparent scramble by the US military and Trump administration officials to accomplish as much as possible in the twilight of the Syria campaign.

US officials told Reuters that planning for a complete withdrawal from Syria is still underway, despite confusing and sometimes contradictory statements from the White House and tension with Turkey, which was meant to take over the campaign against Islamic State.&nbsp;

Several officials said they expected a withdrawal before the end of March, but would not commit to a date, given fast-evolving policy discussions and hard-to-predict battlefield developments.

FINAL BLOWS

Privately, some US officials worry the final push will not be enough to preserve hard-won gains against Islamic State or ensure protection for US-backed Kurdish YPG allies who helped in the fight. NATO ally Turkey views Kurdish militia as terrorists, an extension of a Kurdish insurgency in Turkey.

Trump himself acknowledged his concerns for the Kurds on Monday, warning Turkey of "economic devastation" if it attacks a US-allied Kurdish militia in Syria. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he believed Trump was referring to sanctions.

According to US estimates, Islamic State oversaw about 100,000 square kilometres (39,000 square miles) of territory, with about 8 million people under its control. The group had estimated revenues of nearly one billion dollars a year and used its de facto capital of Raqqa, Syria as a base to plot attacks in Europe.

Backed up by US-led coalition airstrikes, artillery and advisers and equipment, US-supported ground forces in Iraq and Syria clawed back towns and cities from the jihadists. Iraq declared victory against the group in 2017.&nbsp;

US military officials are reluctant to predict how quickly Islamic State militants can be vanquished from their final towns in Syria, recalling how the insurgents fought until the death in Mosul, Iraq. The group still influences about 300 square kilometres in the Middle Euphrates River Valley, according to the US-led coalition.

The persistence of the group was one of the reasons that Trump's decision stunned the Pentagon.&nbsp;

But after the initial shock, military and civilians leaders including Mattis met at the Pentagon the week before Christmas to discuss the quickest, safest and most responsible way they could carry out the troop pullout and protect Kurdish allies.

It became clear that a rapid 30-day withdrawal, as initially suggested by the White House, would not meet the criteria of a "safe and responsible" withdrawal. Before Trump's surprise decision, Pentagon planning had suggested four months would be needed.

One source played down Trump's concerns about whether the drawdown would be done in weeks or months.

"All he wants to know is that it is happening," the source said.

Significantly, Mattis&nbsp;order issued before Christmas did not include a specific timeline, although US officials said military commanders told the White House that a safe and responsible drawdown could not be done in less than 120 days. The order has not been changed since Mattis left office on December 31, when his deputy Patrick Shanahan took over, officials said.&nbsp;

In the meantime, the US-backed forces in Syria, including Kurds, are keeping up the fight - confounding analysts predictions that they would rapidly head north to prepare for an offensive by Turkey.

In fact, since Trump's withdrawal announcement, those forces have been fighting Islamic State with support from US-led coalition air strikes and artillery.&nbsp;

US allies, who were caught entirely off-guard by Trump's announcement, are still seeking clarification about the timing of America' exit.&nbsp;

The troop pullout from Syria dominated discussions by Pompeo during his meetings in Amman, Cairo, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, and Iraq over the past week, in which he told US allies that withdrawal was a tactical change only.

Allies also want information about any post-withdrawal role by the US military to ensure Islamic State militants do not rise from the ashes of their caliphate, US officials and diplomats said.

But they appear relieved at the apparent slowdown of the pullout.

&nbsp;"It seems that there has been a change that I think is positive," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian of France said last week.

US President Donald Trump was reeling from sharp rebukes at home and abroad over his surprise announcement last month to immediately pull American troops out of Syria when he flew into the al Asad airbase in neighbouring Iraq the day after Christmas.

US President Donald Trump was reeling from sharp rebukes at home and abroad over his surprise announcement last month to immediately pull American troops out of Syria when he flew into the al Asad airbase in neighbouring Iraq the day after Christmas. Inside a canvas Quonset hut, one of the arced prefabricated structures used by the military and surrounded by concertina wire, Trump received operational briefs from US commanders suggesting a territorial victory against Islamic State was within sight, but the military needed just a bit more time, US officials said. "They were upbeat about their ability to wrap things up," one of the officials told Reuters. "I definitely think that was a seminal meeting" in terms of influencing Trump' thinking. Lieutenant General Paul LaCamera, the commander of the US-led coalition against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, explained to a president who had lost patience with the war why too rapid a withdrawal could not be done without putting troops at risk, according to three officials familiar with the briefing, the contents of which have not been reported in such detail. In the chaotic aftermath of Trump's December 19 announcement, which was one of the reasons that Defense Secretary Jim Mattis resigned, the 45-minute briefing appears to have helped crystallize an understanding between Trump and his top brass on the ground. Trump, in remarks to reporters, admitted that he felt better about the situation after talking to commanders in the theatre instead of officials in Washington. The briefing also helped win the US military and diplomats some breathing room to plan a more deliberate exit from Syria. It was a novel experience for the president, who was making his first visit to a war zone in his nearly two years in office, fresh from a political pummelling over his decision on Syria from fellow Republicans in Congress and US allies. Nearly three weeks after the briefing, no troops have withdrawn from Syria and only some equipment has moved out. In 2015, then-President Barack Obama first ordered US special operations forces into Syria after long hesitating to deploy "boots on the ground" in the midst of the Syrian civil war. What started off as a mission involving dozens of commandos eventually turned into hundreds and then just kept growing. There are about 2,000 US forces in Syria today. Although Trump initially announced plans for a speedy pullout, he has since said it does not need to go quickly. "We are pulling back in Syria, we are going to be removing our troops, I never said we are doing it that quickly," Trump told reporters at the White House on January 6. In fact, Trump said on December 19 that American troops were coming home and they had already defeated Islamic State in Syria. No experts believe Islamic State has been defeated, despite the group having lost almost all of the territory it held in 2014 and 2015 after seizing parts of Syria and Iraq and declaring a "caliphate." The Pentagon said on Friday that the withdrawal "is not subject to an arbitrary timeline," and would take into account conditions on the ground and talks with allies. Trump's concession of additional time has set off an apparent scramble by the US military and Trump administration officials to accomplish as much as possible in the twilight of the Syria campaign. US officials told Reuters that planning for a complete withdrawal from Syria is still underway, despite confusing and sometimes contradictory statements from the White House and tension with Turkey, which was meant to take over the campaign against Islamic State. Several officials said they expected a withdrawal before the end of March, but would not commit to a date, given fast-evolving policy discussions and hard-to-predict battlefield developments. FINAL BLOWS Privately, some US officials worry the final push will not be enough to preserve hard-won gains against Islamic State or ensure protection for US-backed Kurdish YPG allies who helped in the fight. NATO ally Turkey views Kurdish militia as terrorists, an extension of a Kurdish insurgency in Turkey. Trump himself acknowledged his concerns for the Kurds on Monday, warning Turkey of "economic devastation" if it attacks a US-allied Kurdish militia in Syria. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he believed Trump was referring to sanctions. According to US estimates, Islamic State oversaw about 100,000 square kilometres (39,000 square miles) of territory, with about 8 million people under its control. The group had estimated revenues of nearly one billion dollars a year and used its de facto capital of Raqqa, Syria as a base to plot attacks in Europe. Backed up by US-led coalition airstrikes, artillery and advisers and equipment, US-supported ground forces in Iraq and Syria clawed back towns and cities from the jihadists. Iraq declared victory against the group in 2017. US military officials are reluctant to predict how quickly Islamic State militants can be vanquished from their final towns in Syria, recalling how the insurgents fought until the death in Mosul, Iraq. The group still influences about 300 square kilometres in the Middle Euphrates River Valley, according to the US-led coalition. The persistence of the group was one of the reasons that Trump's decision stunned the Pentagon. But after the initial shock, military and civilians leaders including Mattis met at the Pentagon the week before Christmas to discuss the quickest, safest and most responsible way they could carry out the troop pullout and protect Kurdish allies. It became clear that a rapid 30-day withdrawal, as initially suggested by the White House, would not meet the criteria of a "safe and responsible" withdrawal. Before Trump's surprise decision, Pentagon planning had suggested four months would be needed. One source played down Trump's concerns about whether the drawdown would be done in weeks or months. "All he wants to know is that it is happening," the source said. Significantly, Mattis order issued before Christmas did not include a specific timeline, although US officials said military commanders told the White House that a safe and responsible drawdown could not be done in less than 120 days. The order has not been changed since Mattis left office on December 31, when his deputy Patrick Shanahan took over, officials said. In the meantime, the US-backed forces in Syria, including Kurds, are keeping up the fight - confounding analysts predictions that they would rapidly head north to prepare for an offensive by Turkey. In fact, since Trump's withdrawal announcement, those forces have been fighting Islamic State with support from US-led coalition air strikes and artillery. US allies, who were caught entirely off-guard by Trump's announcement, are still seeking clarification about the timing of America' exit. The troop pullout from Syria dominated discussions by Pompeo during his meetings in Amman, Cairo, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, and Iraq over the past week, in which he told US allies that withdrawal was a tactical change only. Allies also want information about any post-withdrawal role by the US military to ensure Islamic State militants do not rise from the ashes of their caliphate, US officials and diplomats said. But they appear relieved at the apparent slowdown of the pullout. "It seems that there has been a change that I think is positive," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian of France said last week.

How Trump slowed rush for Syria exits after huddling in Iraq

US President Donald J Trump’s threat to devastate Turkey’s economy if Turkish troops attack Syrian Kurds, allied with the United States in the wake of the announced withdrawal of American forces, potentially serves his broader goal of letting regional forces fight for common goals like countering Iranian influence in Syria.

Trump’s threat coupled with a call on Turkey to create a 26-kilometre buffer zone to protect Turkey from a perceived Kurdish threat was designed to pre-empt a Turkish strike against the People’s Protection Units (YPG) that Ankara asserts is part of the outlawed Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), a Turkish group that has waged a low-intensity war in predominantly Kurdish south-eastern Turkey for more than three decades.

Like Turkey, the United States and Europe have designated the PKK as a terrorist organisation.

Turkey has been marshalling forces for an attack on the YPG since Trump’s announced withdrawal of US forces. It would be the third offensive against Syrian Kurds in recent years.

In a sign of strained relations with Saudi Arabia, Turkish media has been reporting, long before the October 2 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, that Saudi Arabia is funding the YPG. There is no independent confirmation of the Turkish allegations.

Yeni Safak reported in 2017, days after the Gulf crisis erupted pitting a Saudi-UAE-Egyptian alliance against Qatar (supported by Turkey), that US, Saudi, Emirati and Egyptian officials had met with the PKK as well as the Democratic Union Party (PYD), which Turkey says is the Syrian political wing of the PKK, to discuss the future of Syrian oil once the Islamic State had been defeated.

Turkey’s semi-official Anadolu Agency reported last May that Saudi and YPG officials had met to discuss cooperation. Saudi Arabia promised to pay Kurdish fighters that joined an Arab-backed force $200 a month, Anadolu said. Saudi Arabia allegedly sent aid to the YPG on trucks that travelled through Iraq to enter Syria.

In August last year, Saudi Arabia announced that it had transferred $100 million to the United States that was earmarked for agriculture, education, roadworks, rubble removal and water service in areas of north-eastern Syria that are controlled by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces of which the YPG is a significant part.

Saudi Arabia said the payment, announced on the day that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in the kingdom, was intended to fund stabilization of areas liberated from control by the Islamic State.

Turkish media, however, insisted that the funds would flow to the YPG.

“The delivery of $100 million is considered as the latest move by Saudi Arabia in support of the partnership between the US and YPG. Using the fight against Daesh as a pretext, the US has been cooperating with the YPG in Syria and providing arms support to the group. After Daesh was cleared from the region with the help of the US, the YPG tightened its grip on Syrian soil taking advantage of the power vacuum in the war-torn country,” Daily Sabah said referring to the Islamic State by one of its Arabic acronyms.

Saudi Arabia has refrained from including the YPG and the PKK on its extensive list of terrorist organisations even though then foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir described in 2017 the Turkish organisation as a “terror group.”

Trump's threat and his earlier vow to stand by the Kurds despite the troop withdrawal give Saudi Arabia and other Arab states such as the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, political cover to support the Kurds as a force against Iran’s presence in Syria.

It also allows the kingdom and the UAE to attempt to thwart Turkish attempts to increase its regional influence. Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt have insisted that Turkey must withdraw its troops from Qatar as one of the conditions for the lifting of the 18-month old diplomatic and economic boycott of the Gulf state.

The UAE, determined to squash any expression of political Islam, has long led the autocratic Arab charge against Turkey because of its opposition to the 2013 military coup in Egypt that toppled Mohammed Morsi, a Muslim Brother and the country’s first and only democratically elected president; Turkey’s close relations with Iran and Turkish support for Qatar and Islamist forces in Libya.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt support General Khalifa Haftar, who commands anti-Islamist forces in eastern Libya while Turkey alongside Qatar and Sudan supports the Islamists.

Libyan and Saudi media reported that authorities had repeatedly intercepted Turkish arms shipments destined for Islamists, including one this month and another last month. Turkey has denied the allegations.

“Simply put, as Qatar has become the go-to financier of the Muslim Brotherhood and its more radical offshoot groups around the globe, Turkey has become their armourer,” said Turkey scholar Michael Rubin.

Ironically, the fact that various Arab states, including the UAE and Bahrain, recently reopened their embassies in Damascus with tacit Saudi approval after having supported forces aligned against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for much of the civil war, like Trump’s threat to devastate the Turkish economy, makes Gulf support for the Kurds more feasible.

Seemingly left in the cold by the US president’s announced withdrawal of American forces, the YPG has sought to forge relations with the Assad regime. In response, Syria has massed troops near the town of Manbij, expected to be the flashpoint of a Turkish offensive.

Commenting on last year’s two-month-long Turkish campaign that removed Kurdish forces from the Syrian town of Afrin and Turkish efforts since to stabilise the region, Gulf scholar Giorgio Cafiero noted that “for the UAE, Afrin represents a frontline in the struggle against Turkish expansionism with respect to the Arab world.”

The same could be said from a Saudi and UAE perspective for Manbij not only with regard to Turkey but also Iran’s presence in Syria. Frontlines and tactics may be shifting, US and Gulf geopolitical goals have not. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

US President Donald J Trump’s threat to devastate Turkey’s economy if Turkish troops attack Syrian Kurds, allied with the United States in the wake of the announced withdrawal of American forces, potentially serves his broader goal of letting regional forces fight for common goals like countering Iranian influence in Syria.

US President Donald J Trump’s threat to devastate Turkey’s economy if Turkish troops attack Syrian Kurds, allied with the United States in the wake of the announced withdrawal of American forces, potentially serves his broader goal of letting regional forces fight for common goals like countering Iranian influence in Syria. Trump’s threat coupled with a call on Turkey to create a 26-kilometre buffer zone to protect Turkey from a perceived Kurdish threat was designed to pre-empt a Turkish strike against the People’s Protection Units (YPG) that Ankara asserts is part of the outlawed Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), a Turkish group that has waged a low-intensity war in predominantly Kurdish south-eastern Turkey for more than three decades. Like Turkey, the United States and Europe have designated the PKK as a terrorist organisation. Turkey has been marshalling forces for an attack on the YPG since Trump’s announced withdrawal of US forces. It would be the third offensive against Syrian Kurds in recent years. In a sign of strained relations with Saudi Arabia, Turkish media has been reporting, long before the October 2 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, that Saudi Arabia is funding the YPG. There is no independent confirmation of the Turkish allegations. Yeni Safak reported in 2017, days after the Gulf crisis erupted pitting a Saudi-UAE-Egyptian alliance against Qatar (supported by Turkey), that US, Saudi, Emirati and Egyptian officials had met with the PKK as well as the Democratic Union Party (PYD), which Turkey says is the Syrian political wing of the PKK, to discuss the future of Syrian oil once the Islamic State had been defeated. Turkey’s semi-official Anadolu Agency reported last May that Saudi and YPG officials had met to discuss cooperation. Saudi Arabia promised to pay Kurdish fighters that joined an Arab-backed force $200 a month, Anadolu said. Saudi Arabia allegedly sent aid to the YPG on trucks that travelled through Iraq to enter Syria. In August last year, Saudi Arabia announced that it had transferred $100 million to the United States that was earmarked for agriculture, education, roadworks, rubble removal and water service in areas of north-eastern Syria that are controlled by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces of which the YPG is a significant part. Saudi Arabia said the payment, announced on the day that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in the kingdom, was intended to fund stabilization of areas liberated from control by the Islamic State. Turkish media, however, insisted that the funds would flow to the YPG. “The delivery of $100 million is considered as the latest move by Saudi Arabia in support of the partnership between the US and YPG. Using the fight against Daesh as a pretext, the US has been cooperating with the YPG in Syria and providing arms support to the group. After Daesh was cleared from the region with the help of the US, the YPG tightened its grip on Syrian soil taking advantage of the power vacuum in the war-torn country,” Daily Sabah said referring to the Islamic State by one of its Arabic acronyms. Saudi Arabia has refrained from including the YPG and the PKK on its extensive list of terrorist organisations even though then foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir described in 2017 the Turkish organisation as a “terror group.” Trump's threat and his earlier vow to stand by the Kurds despite the troop withdrawal give Saudi Arabia and other Arab states such as the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, political cover to support the Kurds as a force against Iran’s presence in Syria. It also allows the kingdom and the UAE to attempt to thwart Turkish attempts to increase its regional influence. Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt have insisted that Turkey must withdraw its troops from Qatar as one of the conditions for the lifting of the 18-month old diplomatic and economic boycott of the Gulf state. The UAE, determined to squash any expression of political Islam, has long led the autocratic Arab charge against Turkey because of its opposition to the 2013 military coup in Egypt that toppled Mohammed Morsi, a Muslim Brother and the country’s first and only democratically elected president; Turkey’s close relations with Iran and Turkish support for Qatar and Islamist forces in Libya. Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt support General Khalifa Haftar, who commands anti-Islamist forces in eastern Libya while Turkey alongside Qatar and Sudan supports the Islamists. Libyan and Saudi media reported that authorities had repeatedly intercepted Turkish arms shipments destined for Islamists, including one this month and another last month. Turkey has denied the allegations. “Simply put, as Qatar has become the go-to financier of the Muslim Brotherhood and its more radical offshoot groups around the globe, Turkey has become their armourer,” said Turkey scholar Michael Rubin. Ironically, the fact that various Arab states, including the UAE and Bahrain, recently reopened their embassies in Damascus with tacit Saudi approval after having supported forces aligned against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for much of the civil war, like Trump’s threat to devastate the Turkish economy, makes Gulf support for the Kurds more feasible. Seemingly left in the cold by the US president’s announced withdrawal of American forces, the YPG has sought to forge relations with the Assad regime. In response, Syria has massed troops near the town of Manbij, expected to be the flashpoint of a Turkish offensive. Commenting on last year’s two-month-long Turkish campaign that removed Kurdish forces from the Syrian town of Afrin and Turkish efforts since to stabilise the region, Gulf scholar Giorgio Cafiero noted that “for the UAE, Afrin represents a frontline in the struggle against Turkish expansionism with respect to the Arab world.” The same could be said from a Saudi and UAE perspective for Manbij not only with regard to Turkey but also Iran’s presence in Syria. Frontlines and tactics may be shifting, US and Gulf geopolitical goals have not. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Syrian Kurds: The new frontline in confronting Iran and Turkey

Turkish President <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-will-not-be-intimidated-by-trump-threats-over-kurdish-militia-foreign-ministry-190207">Recep Tayyip Erdogan</a> said Tuesday that Ankara would set up a "security zone" in northern Syria suggested by US President Donald Trump.

Erdogan said he held a "quite positive" telephone conversation with Trump late on Monday during which he reaffirmed that "a 20-mile (30 kilometres) security zone along the Syrian border... will be set up by us."

Turkey has welcomed the planned withdrawal of some 2,000 US troops from Syria but the future of US-backed Kurdish militia forces regarded as terrorists by Ankara has poisoned Ankara-Washington ties.&nbsp;

Trump on Sunday tweeted that the United States would "devastate Turkey economically if they hit Kurds", a threat that drew angry retorts from the government in Ankara.

Erdogan on Tuesday said Trump's tweet "saddened me and my friends", but added that the two leaders reached an agreement during Monday's phone conversation.&nbsp;

"We have reached an agreement of understanding that is of historic importance," he said.

Erdogan said Turkey would solve issues with a "spirit of alliance" with Trump as long as his country's sensitivities were taken into account.

US support for the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) during the Syria conflict has been a major source of friction between the NATO allies. The US regards the YPG as an effective ground force in the fight against Islamic State (IS) jihadists.

Ankara has however threatened to launch a cross-border operation to eradicate Syrian Kurdish fighters it sees as an offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

The PKK is blacklisted by Turkey as well as by the United States.&nbsp;

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday that Ankara would set up a "security zone" in northern Syria suggested by US President Donald Trump. Erdogan said he held a "quite positive" telephone conversation with Trump late on Monday during which he reaffirmed that "a 20-mile (30 kilometres) security zone along the Syrian border.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday that Ankara would set up a "security zone" in northern Syria suggested by US President Donald Trump. Erdogan said he held a "quite positive" telephone conversation with Trump late on Monday during which he reaffirmed that "a 20-mile (30 kilometres) security zone along the Syrian border... will be set up by us." Turkey has welcomed the planned withdrawal of some 2,000 US troops from Syria but the future of US-backed Kurdish militia forces regarded as terrorists by Ankara has poisoned Ankara-Washington ties. Trump on Sunday tweeted that the United States would "devastate Turkey economically if they hit Kurds", a threat that drew angry retorts from the government in Ankara. Erdogan on Tuesday said Trump's tweet "saddened me and my friends", but added that the two leaders reached an agreement during Monday's phone conversation. "We have reached an agreement of understanding that is of historic importance," he said. Erdogan said Turkey would solve issues with a "spirit of alliance" with Trump as long as his country's sensitivities were taken into account. US support for the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) during the Syria conflict has been a major source of friction between the NATO allies. The US regards the YPG as an effective ground force in the fight against Islamic State (IS) jihadists. Ankara has however threatened to launch a cross-border operation to eradicate Syrian Kurdish fighters it sees as an offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The PKK is blacklisted by Turkey as well as by the United States.

Erdogan says Turkey will set up Syria 'security zone' as suggested by Trump

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/in-video-israels-netanyahu-congratulates-iran-football-team-encourages-protests-against-govt-147536">Netanyahu on Tuesday urged Iran to quickly remove its forces from neighbouring Syria</a> or face continued attacks on them by Israel.

"Yesterday I heard the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman saying 'Iran has no military presence in Syria, we only advise them'," Netanyahu said at a Tel Aviv ceremony to install a new head of Israel's armed forces.

"So let me advise them -- get out of there fast, because we'll continue our forceful policy of attacking, as we promised and are doing, fearlessly and relentlessly," he said.

In a rare public confirmation on Sunday, Netanyahu said Israel had attacked what he described as "Iranian warehouses containing Iranian weapons in the Damascus international airport" over the weekend.

Netanyahu added that Israel had attacked Iranian and Hezbollah targets in Syria hundreds of times.

Israel has pledged to prevent Iran entrenching itself militarily in Syria, where its arch foe is backing President Bashar al-Assad's regime alongside Russia and Hezbollah.

At the ceremony for the new chief of staff, Lieutenant-General Aviv Kochavi, Netanyahu reiterated that Israel's central security challenge was "Iran and its terror emissaries," saying the Israeli military had "prevented the military entrenchment of Iran in Syria."

Tehran denies sending regular troops to fight in Syria, saying it has only provided military advisors and militia fighters from various countries.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday urged Iran to quickly remove its forces from neighbouring Syria or face continued attacks on them by Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday urged Iran to quickly remove its forces from neighbouring Syria or face continued attacks on them by Israel. "Yesterday I heard the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman saying 'Iran has no military presence in Syria, we only advise them'," Netanyahu said at a Tel Aviv ceremony to install a new head of Israel's armed forces. "So let me advise them -- get out of there fast, because we'll continue our forceful policy of attacking, as we promised and are doing, fearlessly and relentlessly," he said. In a rare public confirmation on Sunday, Netanyahu said Israel had attacked what he described as "Iranian warehouses containing Iranian weapons in the Damascus international airport" over the weekend. Netanyahu added that Israel had attacked Iranian and Hezbollah targets in Syria hundreds of times. Israel has pledged to prevent Iran entrenching itself militarily in Syria, where its arch foe is backing President Bashar al-Assad's regime alongside Russia and Hezbollah. At the ceremony for the new chief of staff, Lieutenant-General Aviv Kochavi, Netanyahu reiterated that Israel's central security challenge was "Iran and its terror emissaries," saying the Israeli military had "prevented the military entrenchment of Iran in Syria." Tehran denies sending regular troops to fight in Syria, saying it has only provided military advisors and militia fighters from various countries.

Netanyahu tells Iran to get out of Syria 'fast' or face more attacks

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/qatar-says-gulf-alliance-needs-replacing-184365">Qatar's foreign minister</a> ruled out on Monday the possibility of re-opening an embassy in Damascus, in line with some other Gulf countries, calling Syrian President Bashar al-Assad a war criminal.

"Normalisation (of relations) with the Syrian regime at this stage is the normalisation of a person involved in war crimes, and this should not be acceptable," said Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani at a Doha press conference.

Al-Thani said the reasons why Assad — who was elected unopposed in 2000 and has stayed in power during nearly eight years of civil war — was excluded from the international community are still in place.

He added that Damascus under Assad should not be allowed back into the Arab League — its membership was suspended in 2011 — as "the Syrian people are still under bombardment... by the Syrian regime".

His comments come after Gulf neighbours the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain announced late last month they reopened their Damascus embassies.

The UAE's foreign minister Anwar Gargash tweeted that his country was doing so in part because of the influence of Iran and one of Qatar's strongest allies, Turkey, in Syria.

Tehran has been a staunch supporter of Assad's government and has expanded its military footprint in Syria throughout the course of the conflict.

That move also emphasised the foreign policy differences between the three Gulf states.

For the past 19 months, Qatar has been in a deep diplomatic dispute with the UAE and Bahrain, in part over the direction of Doha's regional foreign policy in recent years.

Qatar has been instrumental in the Syrian civil war supplying weapons to rebel groups, according to institutions such as the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

Syria's opposition leader Nasr al-Hariri has pleaded with Arab leaders not to rebuild relation with Assad as his government now controls almost two-thirds of the country following military backing from Russia and Iran.

'Normalisation (of relations) with the Syrian regime at this stage is the normalisation of a person involved in war crimes, and this should not be acceptable,' said Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani.

Qatar's foreign minister ruled out on Monday the possibility of re-opening an embassy in Damascus, in line with some other Gulf countries, calling Syrian President Bashar al-Assad a war criminal. "Normalisation (of relations) with the Syrian regime at this stage is the normalisation of a person involved in war crimes, and this should not be acceptable," said Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani at a Doha press conference. Al-Thani said the reasons why Assad — who was elected unopposed in 2000 and has stayed in power during nearly eight years of civil war — was excluded from the international community are still in place. He added that Damascus under Assad should not be allowed back into the Arab League — its membership was suspended in 2011 — as "the Syrian people are still under bombardment... by the Syrian regime". His comments come after Gulf neighbours the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain announced late last month they reopened their Damascus embassies. The UAE's foreign minister Anwar Gargash tweeted that his country was doing so in part because of the influence of Iran and one of Qatar's strongest allies, Turkey, in Syria. Tehran has been a staunch supporter of Assad's government and has expanded its military footprint in Syria throughout the course of the conflict. That move also emphasised the foreign policy differences between the three Gulf states. For the past 19 months, Qatar has been in a deep diplomatic dispute with the UAE and Bahrain, in part over the direction of Doha's regional foreign policy in recent years. Qatar has been instrumental in the Syrian civil war supplying weapons to rebel groups, according to institutions such as the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Syria's opposition leader Nasr al-Hariri has pleaded with Arab leaders not to rebuild relation with Assad as his government now controls almost two-thirds of the country following military backing from Russia and Iran.

Qatar rejects normalising ties with 'criminal' Syrian President Assad

President Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman said on Monday <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-warns-turkey-of-economic-devastation-if-it-hits-kurds-190087">Turkey expected the United States </a>to honour their strategic partnership after US&nbsp;President Donald Trump warned it would devastate Turkey economically if they attack a Kurdish militia in Syria.

Relations between the two NATO allies have been strained over US&nbsp;backing for the Kurdish YPG, which Turkey views as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) that is waging a decades-long insurgency on Turkish soil.

“Mr @realDonaldTrump It is a fatal mistake to equate Syrian Kurds with the PKK, which is on the US terrorists list, and its Syria branch PYD/YPG,” spokesman Ibrahim Kalin wrote on Twitter.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Mr <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> Terrorists can’t be your partners &amp; allies. Turkey expects the US to honor our strategic partnership and doesn’t want it to be shadowed by terrorist propaganda. 
There is no difference between DAESH, PKK, PYD and YPG. We will continue to fight against them all. <a href="https://t.co/Yyzgyp9RQ4">https://t.co/Yyzgyp9RQ4</a>
— Ibrahim Kalin (@ikalin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/ikalin1/status/1084600728512016386?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2019</a></blockquote>
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“Terrorists can’t be your partners &amp; allies. Turkey expects the US to honour our strategic partnership and doesn’t want it to be shadowed by terrorist propaganda,” he said.

Trump had tweeted earlier about the United States starting its pullout from Syria, while hitting the remaining Islamic State fighters there.

“Will attack again from existing nearby base if it reforms. Will devastate Turkey economically if they hit Kurds. Create 20 mile safe zone...Likewise, do not want the Kurds to provoke Turkey,” Trump wrote.

The Kurdish YPG has been a US ally in the fight against the Islamic State group and it controls swaths of northern Syria. Erdogan has vowed to crush it in the wake of Trump’s decision to pull US troops out of the region.

President Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman said on Monday Turkey expected the United States to honour their strategic partnership after US President Donald Trump warned it would devastate Turkey economically if they attack a Kurdish militia in Syria.

President Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman said on Monday Turkey expected the United States to honour their strategic partnership after US President Donald Trump warned it would devastate Turkey economically if they attack a Kurdish militia in Syria. Relations between the two NATO allies have been strained over US backing for the Kurdish YPG, which Turkey views as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) that is waging a decades-long insurgency on Turkish soil. “Mr @realDonaldTrump It is a fatal mistake to equate Syrian Kurds with the PKK, which is on the US terrorists list, and its Syria branch PYD/YPG,” spokesman Ibrahim Kalin wrote on Twitter. Mr @realDonaldTrump Terrorists can’t be your partners & allies. Turkey expects the US to honor our strategic partnership and doesn’t want it to be shadowed by terrorist propaganda. There is no difference between DAESH, PKK, PYD and YPG. We will continue to fight against them all. https://t.co/Yyzgyp9RQ4 — Ibrahim Kalin (@ikalin1) January 13, 2019 × “Terrorists can’t be your partners & allies. Turkey expects the US to honour our strategic partnership and doesn’t want it to be shadowed by terrorist propaganda,” he said. Trump had tweeted earlier about the United States starting its pullout from Syria, while hitting the remaining Islamic State fighters there. “Will attack again from existing nearby base if it reforms. Will devastate Turkey economically if they hit Kurds. Create 20 mile safe zone...Likewise, do not want the Kurds to provoke Turkey,” Trump wrote. The Kurdish YPG has been a US ally in the fight against the Islamic State group and it controls swaths of northern Syria. Erdogan has vowed to crush it in the wake of Trump’s decision to pull US troops out of the region.

Expect US to honour our strategic partnership: Turkey on Kurdish militia in Syria

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-will-not-be-intimidated-by-trump-threats-over-kurdish-militia-foreign-ministry-190207">Turkey says it will not be 'intimidated' by Trump's threats</a>

Turkey said Monday it would not be intimidated by threats after US President Donald Trump warned the country of economic devastation if it attacked Kurdish forces.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-police-files-sedition-charges-against-jnus-kanhaiya-kumar-umar-khalid-190203">JNU case: Delhi Police charge Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and others with sedition</a>

Delhi Police on Monday filed a 12-page charge sheet in connection with the 2016 JNU sedition case. According to reports, the charge sheet has been filed at Delhi's Patiala House Court and names former student union leaders Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid for allegedly holding an anti-national event at Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University in February 2016. The Court will consider the charge sheet on Tuesday.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/13-dead-2-still-missing-in-cargo-plane-crash-iran-army-190221">Fifteen dead in cargo plane crash: Iran Army</a>

A military cargo plane overshot a runway, crashed and caught fire during a botched landing near the Iranian capital Tehran, killing 13 people, the army said Monday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/bangladesh-garment-workers-reject-wage-hike-walk-off-job-190243">Bangladesh garment workers reject wage hike, walk off </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/bangladesh-garment-workers-reject-wage-hike-walk-off-job-190243">job</a>

Thousands of Bangladeshi garment workers downed tools and walked out of clothing factories Monday, refusing to end a week-long strike over wages and rejecting government efforts to end the standoff.

&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/andy-murray-out-of-australian-open-after-five-set-thriller-190245">Andy Murray out of Australian Open after </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/andy-murray-out-of-australian-open-after-five-set-thriller-190245">five-set</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/andy-murray-out-of-australian-open-after-five-set-thriller-190245"> thriller</a>

Britain's Andy Murray lost to Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-7 (4-7), 6-2 in the first round of Australian Open 2019.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Turkey says it will not be 'intimidated' by Trump's threats Turkey said Monday it would not be intimidated by threats after US President Donald Trump warned the country of economic devastation if it attacked Kurdish forces.

Turkey says it will not be 'intimidated' by Trump's threats Turkey said Monday it would not be intimidated by threats after US President Donald Trump warned the country of economic devastation if it attacked Kurdish forces. JNU case: Delhi Police charge Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and others with sedition Delhi Police on Monday filed a 12-page charge sheet in connection with the 2016 JNU sedition case. According to reports, the charge sheet has been filed at Delhi's Patiala House Court and names former student union leaders Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid for allegedly holding an anti-national event at Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University in February 2016. The Court will consider the charge sheet on Tuesday. Fifteen dead in cargo plane crash: Iran Army A military cargo plane overshot a runway, crashed and caught fire during a botched landing near the Iranian capital Tehran, killing 13 people, the army said Monday. Bangladesh garment workers reject wage hike, walk off job Thousands of Bangladeshi garment workers downed tools and walked out of clothing factories Monday, refusing to end a week-long strike over wages and rejecting government efforts to end the standoff. Andy Murray out of Australian Open after five-set thriller Britain's Andy Murray lost to Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-7 (4-7), 6-2 in the first round of Australian Open 2019.

News brief: Big stories of the day

President Donald Trump warned Turkey on Sunday of economic devastation if it attacks Kurdish forces in the wake of the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pictures-us-begins-process-of-pulling-out-from-syria-189878">US troop pullout from Syria</a>, while also urging the Kurds not to "provoke" Ankara.

Trump took to Twitter to reveal some of his latest thoughts in the slow drip-drip of information being released by his administration after his shocking December announcement of the troop withdrawal.

His top <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/pompeo-optimistic-syria-kurds-turkey-can-be-protected-189910">diplomat Mike Pompeo</a> is on a whirlwind regional tour aimed at reassuring allies amid rising tensions between the US and Turkey over the fate of Washington's Syrian Kurdish allies in the fight against the Islamic State group.

Pompeo also sought to reassure Washington's Kurdish allies in the fight against IS, who fear the departure of American troops would allow Turkey to attack them.

Turkey had reacted angrily to suggestions that Trump's plan to withdraw troops was conditional on the safety of the US-backed Kurdish fighters, seen by the Turkish government as terrorists.

"Will devastate Turkey economically if they hit Kurds," Trump tweeted while pushing for the creation of a 20-mile (30-kilometer) "safe zone."

"Likewise, do not want the Kurds to provoke Turkey."

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Starting the long overdue pullout from Syria while hitting the little remaining ISIS territorial caliphate hard, and from many directions. Will attack again from existing nearby base if it reforms. Will devastate Turkey economically if they hit Kurds. Create 20 mile safe zone....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1084584259510304768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2019</a></blockquote>
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....Likewise, do not want the Kurds to provoke Turkey. Russia, Iran and Syria have been the biggest beneficiaries of the long term U.S. policy of destroying ISIS in Syria - natural enemies. We also benefit but it is now time to bring our troops back home. Stop the ENDLESS WARS!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1084586625672376322?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Trump did not detail who would create, enforce or pay for the safe zone, or where it would be located.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-led-coalition-withdrawing-equipment-from-syria-189689">US-led operations </a>against IS in Syria have been spearheaded on the ground by the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Ankara sees the backbone of that alliance, the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), as a terrorist group linked to the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) which has fought a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state.

On Saturday, more than 600 people were evacuated from the remaining IS holdout in eastern Syria, a monitor said, as US-backed fighters prepare for a final assault on the area.

"Starting the long overdue pullout from Syria while hitting the little remaining ISIS territorial caliphate hard, and from many directions. Will attack again from existing nearby base if it reforms," Trump said.

"Russia, Iran and Syria have been the biggest beneficiaries of the long term US policy of destroying ISIS in Syria - natural enemies. We also benefit but it is now time to bring our troops back home. Stop the ENDLESS WARS!"

Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights head Rami Abdel Rahman said that several dozen jihadist fighters were among those evacuated to areas held by the Kurdish-Arab alliance.&nbsp;

Abdel Rahman said some 16,000 people, including 760 IS fighters, have fled the area since the start of December, though this marked the first time the SDF and the coalition provided buses, suggesting a deal struck between the warring sides.

Civilians still trapped

The United Nations said Friday that overall some 25,000 people have fled the violence over the last six months as the die-hard jihadists have battled to defend their dwindling bastions.&nbsp;

An estimated 2,000 civilians remain trapped in the area around the town of Hajin, the United Nations said.

The US-led coalition on Saturday fired over 20 missiles against jihadist positions, the Observatory said.&nbsp;

The monitor said some 300 SDF combatants had deployed near the village of Sousa in preparations for a final assault.&nbsp;

President Donald Trump warned Turkey on Sunday of economic devastation if it attacks Kurdish forces in the wake of the US troop pullout from Syria, while also urging the Kurds not to "provoke" Ankara.

President Donald Trump warned Turkey on Sunday of economic devastation if it attacks Kurdish forces in the wake of the US troop pullout from Syria, while also urging the Kurds not to "provoke" Ankara. Trump took to Twitter to reveal some of his latest thoughts in the slow drip-drip of information being released by his administration after his shocking December announcement of the troop withdrawal. His top diplomat Mike Pompeo is on a whirlwind regional tour aimed at reassuring allies amid rising tensions between the US and Turkey over the fate of Washington's Syrian Kurdish allies in the fight against the Islamic State group. Pompeo also sought to reassure Washington's Kurdish allies in the fight against IS, who fear the departure of American troops would allow Turkey to attack them. Turkey had reacted angrily to suggestions that Trump's plan to withdraw troops was conditional on the safety of the US-backed Kurdish fighters, seen by the Turkish government as terrorists. "Will devastate Turkey economically if they hit Kurds," Trump tweeted while pushing for the creation of a 20-mile (30-kilometer) "safe zone." "Likewise, do not want the Kurds to provoke Turkey." Starting the long overdue pullout from Syria while hitting the little remaining ISIS territorial caliphate hard, and from many directions. Will attack again from existing nearby base if it reforms. Will devastate Turkey economically if they hit Kurds. Create 20 mile safe zone.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 13, 2019 × ....Likewise, do not want the Kurds to provoke Turkey. Russia, Iran and Syria have been the biggest beneficiaries of the long term U.S. policy of destroying ISIS in Syria - natural enemies. We also benefit but it is now time to bring our troops back home. Stop the ENDLESS WARS! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 13, 2019 × Trump did not detail who would create, enforce or pay for the safe zone, or where it would be located. US-led operations against IS in Syria have been spearheaded on the ground by the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Ankara sees the backbone of that alliance, the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), as a terrorist group linked to the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) which has fought a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state. On Saturday, more than 600 people were evacuated from the remaining IS holdout in eastern Syria, a monitor said, as US-backed fighters prepare for a final assault on the area. "Starting the long overdue pullout from Syria while hitting the little remaining ISIS territorial caliphate hard, and from many directions. Will attack again from existing nearby base if it reforms," Trump said. "Russia, Iran and Syria have been the biggest beneficiaries of the long term US policy of destroying ISIS in Syria - natural enemies. We also benefit but it is now time to bring our troops back home. Stop the ENDLESS WARS!" Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights head Rami Abdel Rahman said that several dozen jihadist fighters were among those evacuated to areas held by the Kurdish-Arab alliance. Abdel Rahman said some 16,000 people, including 760 IS fighters, have fled the area since the start of December, though this marked the first time the SDF and the coalition provided buses, suggesting a deal struck between the warring sides. Civilians still trapped The United Nations said Friday that overall some 25,000 people have fled the violence over the last six months as the die-hard jihadists have battled to defend their dwindling bastions. An estimated 2,000 civilians remain trapped in the area around the town of Hajin, the United Nations said. The US-led coalition on Saturday fired over 20 missiles against jihadist positions, the Observatory said. The monitor said some 300 SDF combatants had deployed near the village of Sousa in preparations for a final assault.

Will devastate Turkey economically if they hit Kurds: Trump

US begins process of pulling out from Syria

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/israel-will-escalate-fight-against-iran-in-syria-after-us-exit-netanyahu-185518">Israel had at the weekend carried out an air strike on Iranian weapons in Syria</a>, a rare public confirmation of such attacks.

"Just in the last 36 hours the air force attacked Iranian warehouses containing Iranian weapons in the Damascus international airport," Netanyahu said at the start of a cabinet meeting, according to his office.

"The accumulation of recent attacks shows that we're more determined than ever to act against Iran in Syria, just as we promised."

Late Friday Syrian air defences shot down Israeli missiles, Syria's official SANA news agency reported that day quoting a military source.

"Only a ministry of transport warehouse at Damascus international airport was hit," SANA cited the military source as saying at the time.

On Sunday Netanyahu said that Israel had attacked Iranian and Hezbollah targets in Syria hundreds of times.

Israel has pledged to prevent its main enemy Iran from entrenching itself militarily in Syria, where it is backing President Bashar al-Assad's regime alongside Russia and Hezbollah.

It rarely publicly confirms such strikes, though outgoing military chief of staff Gadi syria &nbsp;has spoken of them in interviews in recent days.

Eisenkot told the New York Times that "we struck thousands of targets without claiming responsibility or asking for credit."

Netanyahu is also facing April 9 elections in Israel and has been seeking to burnish his security credentials.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel had at the weekend carried out an air strike on Iranian weapons in Syria, a rare public confirmation of such attacks.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel had at the weekend carried out an air strike on Iranian weapons in Syria, a rare public confirmation of such attacks. "Just in the last 36 hours the air force attacked Iranian warehouses containing Iranian weapons in the Damascus international airport," Netanyahu said at the start of a cabinet meeting, according to his office. "The accumulation of recent attacks shows that we're more determined than ever to act against Iran in Syria, just as we promised." Late Friday Syrian air defences shot down Israeli missiles, Syria's official SANA news agency reported that day quoting a military source. "Only a ministry of transport warehouse at Damascus international airport was hit," SANA cited the military source as saying at the time. On Sunday Netanyahu said that Israel had attacked Iranian and Hezbollah targets in Syria hundreds of times. Israel has pledged to prevent its main enemy Iran from entrenching itself militarily in Syria, where it is backing President Bashar al-Assad's regime alongside Russia and Hezbollah. It rarely publicly confirms such strikes, though outgoing military chief of staff Gadi syria has spoken of them in interviews in recent days. Eisenkot told the New York Times that "we struck thousands of targets without claiming responsibility or asking for credit." Netanyahu is also facing April 9 elections in Israel and has been seeking to burnish his security credentials.

Israel says it has hit Iranian target in Syria with air strike

An estimated 25,000 people have fled escalating violence over the last six months in eastern Syria, where die-hard jihadists are defending their last bastions, the UN said Friday.&nbsp;

Much of the unrest has been centred around Hajin in Deir Ezzor province, which had been the last town of note controlled by the Islamic State group in the area until it was taken in December by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The United Nations refugee agency said that clashes and air strikes have forced 25,000 people to run and seek shelter in camps or informal settlements, sometimes after spending several nights in the desert exposed to harsh weather and without access to food or water.&nbsp;

The agency also warned over "mounting civilian casualties" in the area, without providing figures.&nbsp;

An estimated 2,000 civilians remain trapped in Hajin, where conflict continues, the UN said. &nbsp;

The SDF is currently flushing out the very last pockets of land controlled by the jihadists in the Euphrates River valley.

The US-led coalition that is supporting them in the area said Friday that it had begun withdrawing its troops, following a shock announcement from US President Donald Trump.&nbsp;

An estimated 25,000 people have fled escalating violence over the last six months in eastern Syria, where die-hard jihadists are defending their last bastions, the UN said Friday.

An estimated 25,000 people have fled escalating violence over the last six months in eastern Syria, where die-hard jihadists are defending their last bastions, the UN said Friday. Much of the unrest has been centred around Hajin in Deir Ezzor province, which had been the last town of note controlled by the Islamic State group in the area until it was taken in December by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The United Nations refugee agency said that clashes and air strikes have forced 25,000 people to run and seek shelter in camps or informal settlements, sometimes after spending several nights in the desert exposed to harsh weather and without access to food or water. The agency also warned over "mounting civilian casualties" in the area, without providing figures. An estimated 2,000 civilians remain trapped in Hajin, where conflict continues, the UN said. The SDF is currently flushing out the very last pockets of land controlled by the jihadists in the Euphrates River valley. The US-led coalition that is supporting them in the area said Friday that it had begun withdrawing its troops, following a shock announcement from US President Donald Trump.

25,000 flee violence in eastern Syria: United Nations

The US decision to withdraw troops from Syria will not jeopardise Washington`s efforts to counter threats in the region, which come from Iran and Islamic State, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday.

Pompeo was in Jordan, making his first visit to the Middle East since President Donald Trump`s abrupt announcement that he will pull the 2,000 US troops from Syria, which caused alarm among US allies in the region and prompted the resignation of Defence Secretary Jim Mattis.

The US troops in Syria have been fighting against Islamic State and also served as a counterweight to the Syrian government, which is backed by Iran and Russia.

Many of Trump`s domestic and international critics have said that withdrawing the troops abruptly could expose Washington`s Kurdish allies to repression from Turkey, and also allow Iran to solidify its influence in Syria.

But Pompeo said Washington was not stepping down from its efforts to challenge Iran. American policy makers were "redoubling not only our diplomatic but our commercial efforts to put real pressure on Iran," he said.&nbsp;

"There is enormous agreement on the risk that Iran poses to Jordan and other countries in the region," Pompeo added.&nbsp;

Jordan, which has expressed worries in the past about Iranian influence, particularly near the Jordanian border in southern Syria, said Tehran should refrain from meddling in the affairs of its neighbours Syria and Iraq.&nbsp;

"We all have problems with Iran`s expansionist policies in the region," Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said.

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

The US decision to withdraw troops from Syria will not jeopardise Washington`s efforts to counter threats in the region, which come from Iran and Islamic State, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday. Pompeo was in Jordan, making his first visit to the Middle East since President Donald Trump`s abrupt announcement that he will pull the 2,000 US troops from Syria, which caused alarm among US allies in the region and prompted the resignation of Defence Secretary Jim Mattis. The US troops in Syria have been fighting against Islamic State and also served as a counterweight to the Syrian government, which is backed by Iran and Russia. Many of Trump`s domestic and international critics have said that withdrawing the troops abruptly could expose Washington`s Kurdish allies to repression from Turkey, and also allow Iran to solidify its influence in Syria. But Pompeo said Washington was not stepping down from its efforts to challenge Iran. American policy makers were "redoubling not only our diplomatic but our commercial efforts to put real pressure on Iran," he said. "There is enormous agreement on the risk that Iran poses to Jordan and other countries in the region," Pompeo added. Jordan, which has expressed worries in the past about Iranian influence, particularly near the Jordanian border in southern Syria, said Tehran should refrain from meddling in the affairs of its neighbours Syria and Iraq. "We all have problems with Iran`s expansionist policies in the region," Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said.

US withdrawal from Syria does not jeopardise efforts to counter Iran, Pompeo says

Days after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-aide-sets-conditions-for-us-syria-withdrawal-188724">US National Security Advisr John Bolton</a> stated conditions for the withdrawal of US troops from Syria, Turkish President&nbsp;Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told journalists in Ankara on Tuesday that Turkey would provide no assurances to Kurdish militia forces in Syria.

The clarification from the spokesman came after he held a meeting with Bolton.

"Nobody should expect Turkey to provide assurances to a terror organisation," Kalin told journalists.

White House national security adviser John Bolton had on Sunday sought protection for the Syrian Kurdish forces.

Bolton, who is&nbsp;on a four-day trip to Israel and Turkey, had said earlier&nbsp;that he would stress on the security of the Kurdish forces.

He had also added that&nbsp;Trump's position is that Turkey may not attack the Kurds and that the US&nbsp;withdrawal would not take place without an agreement on that.

President&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/syrian-surprise-how-trumps-phone-call-changed-the-war-187008">Donald Trump's abrupt decision to announce a US&nbsp;pull-out from Syria</a>&nbsp;left open many questions, chiefly whether Kurds fighters operating in northern Syria would now be targetted by their long-time enemy Turkey.

Meanwhile,&nbsp;Turkey on Tuesday urged the United States to take back all the weapons provided to Syrian Kurdish militia forces in the fight against the Islamic State group, a presidential spokesman said.

"We expect that all the weapons that were given out will be seized," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told journalists in Ankara after a meeting with White House National Security adviser John Bolton.

The US troops in Syria have never been involved in a direct fight with the ISIS militant group unless it was for their self-defence.&nbsp;

Since 2015 the forces had been assisting and advising the Kurdish led Syrian Democratic Force (SDF).

The Kurdish forces who have been demanding a separate country for themselves&nbsp;fought against the Islamic State in the country alongside the US troops.

The Bashar al-Assad regime, on the other hand, was backed by Russia, Iran and Turkey.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

Days after US National Security Advisr John Bolton stated conditions for the withdrawal of US troops from Syria, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told journalists in Ankara on Tuesday that Turkey would provide no assurances to Kurdish militia forces in Syria.

Days after US National Security Advisr John Bolton stated conditions for the withdrawal of US troops from Syria, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told journalists in Ankara on Tuesday that Turkey would provide no assurances to Kurdish militia forces in Syria. The clarification from the spokesman came after he held a meeting with Bolton. "Nobody should expect Turkey to provide assurances to a terror organisation," Kalin told journalists. White House national security adviser John Bolton had on Sunday sought protection for the Syrian Kurdish forces. Bolton, who is on a four-day trip to Israel and Turkey, had said earlier that he would stress on the security of the Kurdish forces. He had also added that Trump's position is that Turkey may not attack the Kurds and that the US withdrawal would not take place without an agreement on that. President Donald Trump's abrupt decision to announce a US pull-out from Syria left open many questions, chiefly whether Kurds fighters operating in northern Syria would now be targetted by their long-time enemy Turkey. Meanwhile, Turkey on Tuesday urged the United States to take back all the weapons provided to Syrian Kurdish militia forces in the fight against the Islamic State group, a presidential spokesman said. "We expect that all the weapons that were given out will be seized," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told journalists in Ankara after a meeting with White House National Security adviser John Bolton. The US troops in Syria have never been involved in a direct fight with the ISIS militant group unless it was for their self-defence. Since 2015 the forces had been assisting and advising the Kurdish led Syrian Democratic Force (SDF). The Kurdish forces who have been demanding a separate country for themselves fought against the Islamic State in the country alongside the US troops. The Bashar al-Assad regime, on the other hand, was backed by Russia, Iran and Turkey. (With inputs from agencies)

Turkey will give no assurances to US-backed Kurdish forces in Syria: Erdogan's spokesman

At least 23 forces of the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/nobody-should-expect-turkey-to-provide-assurance-to-terror-organisation-turkey-on-kurdish-forces-189051">US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)</a> were killed on Tuesday in a fight with the radical Islamist forces.

The Islamist State could not retain their last bastion in eastern Syria in the fight which also killed nine jihadists.

The Islamist forces used the cover of the bad weather and launched a deadly counterattack against the Kurdish-led force.

IS fighters took advantage of poor visibility to unleash suicide attackers on SDF forces along the front line in the Euphrates valley late on Sunday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

"Twenty-three SDF fighters were killed and nine IS jihadists were also killed in fighting that lasted all night and into Monday morning," Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said.

The SDF launched what is meant to be the final offensive on the jihadist organisation four months ago with air and ground support from coalition forces.

(With inputs from AFP)

At least 23 forces of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were killed on Tuesday in a fight with the radical Islamist forces. The Islamist State could not retain their last bastion in eastern Syria in the fight which also killed nine jihadists.

At least 23 forces of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were killed on Tuesday in a fight with the radical Islamist forces. The Islamist State could not retain their last bastion in eastern Syria in the fight which also killed nine jihadists. The Islamist forces used the cover of the bad weather and launched a deadly counterattack against the Kurdish-led force. IS fighters took advantage of poor visibility to unleash suicide attackers on SDF forces along the front line in the Euphrates valley late on Sunday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. "Twenty-three SDF fighters were killed and nine IS jihadists were also killed in fighting that lasted all night and into Monday morning," Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said. The SDF launched what is meant to be the final offensive on the jihadist organisation four months ago with air and ground support from coalition forces. (With inputs from AFP)

IS counterattack in east Syria leaves 32 dead: Monitor

An Islamic State group suicide bomber attacked a centre for Kurdish forces in the northern Syrian city of Raqa on Monday, killing four civilians and an anti-jihadist fighter, a monitor said.

The attacker blew himself up after entering the centre run by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

"A suicide attacker wearing an explosives belt blew himself up inside a YPG centre after opening fire on a security checkpoint at its entrance," Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said.&nbsp;

At least four civilians and a YPG fighter were killed in the attack, he added.

The YPG forms the backbone an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters called the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) battling to expel IS from its last redoubt in eastern Syria.

IS claimed responsibility for the attack they said targeted a "recruitment centre" for Kurdish forces.

"The attacker aimed at them with a machine gun then blew up his explosives vest in the middle of them," it said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.

Backed by the US-led coalition, the SDF has in recent weeks advanced against IS fighters in their last holdout in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor near the Iraqi border.

The jihadists are clinging on to a handful of villages in the Euphrates River Valley, including Sousa and Baghouz.

They also retain a presence in the country's vast Badia desert.

IS swept across large swathes of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in 2014, proclaiming a "caliphate" across areas under its control. But it has since lost most of that territory to various offensives.

The SDF ousted IS fighters from Raqa in 2017, more than three years after the jihadists overran the city and made it their de-facto Syrian capital.

Syria's war has killed more than 360,000 people and displaced millions more since it erupted in 2011 with the repression of anti-government protests.

An Islamic State group suicide bomber attacked a centre for Kurdish forces in the northern Syrian city of Raqa on Monday, killing four civilians and an anti-jihadist fighter, a monitor said.

An Islamic State group suicide bomber attacked a centre for Kurdish forces in the northern Syrian city of Raqa on Monday, killing four civilians and an anti-jihadist fighter, a monitor said. The attacker blew himself up after entering the centre run by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. "A suicide attacker wearing an explosives belt blew himself up inside a YPG centre after opening fire on a security checkpoint at its entrance," Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said. At least four civilians and a YPG fighter were killed in the attack, he added. The YPG forms the backbone an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters called the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) battling to expel IS from its last redoubt in eastern Syria. IS claimed responsibility for the attack they said targeted a "recruitment centre" for Kurdish forces. "The attacker aimed at them with a machine gun then blew up his explosives vest in the middle of them," it said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app. Backed by the US-led coalition, the SDF has in recent weeks advanced against IS fighters in their last holdout in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor near the Iraqi border. The jihadists are clinging on to a handful of villages in the Euphrates River Valley, including Sousa and Baghouz. They also retain a presence in the country's vast Badia desert. IS swept across large swathes of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in 2014, proclaiming a "caliphate" across areas under its control. But it has since lost most of that territory to various offensives. The SDF ousted IS fighters from Raqa in 2017, more than three years after the jihadists overran the city and made it their de-facto Syrian capital. Syria's war has killed more than 360,000 people and displaced millions more since it erupted in 2011 with the repression of anti-government protests.

IS suicide bomber kills 5 in Syria's Raqa: Monitor

Syria’s chief opposition negotiator said on Sunday he was surprised by countries rebuilding ties with the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/2018-marked-another-bloody-year-in-syria-187022">Syrian</a> government and urged them to revisit their decision.

"We have no power to stop this reconciliation, we hope it is not for free," Nasr Hariri told reporters in Riyadh. "Bashar al-Assad will remain a war criminal even if thousands of leaders had a handshake with him."

The United Arab Emirates re-opened its embassy in Damascus last month and Bahrain said its embassy there and the Syrian diplomatic mission in Manama had been operating “without interruption”.

The brutal all-out war in Syria is now <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/with-arab-countries-embracing-syrian-again-is-countrys-isolation-over-188046">coming to an end</a>. Neighbouring countries have slowly started rebuilding ties with Syria, putting an end to its isolation in the region.&nbsp;

Syria fell into a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.wionews.com/opinions/international-community-has-failed-syria-167928&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjsnbKlvMLfAhUKsI8KHaviDoUQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw0LihMYnQQnV8TUmMHDGua-">civil war</a>&nbsp;in 2011 following the Arab Spring protest led by the civilians against the Bashar al-Assad government.

The protests turned violent and an armed revolt broke out after some of the protesters took up guns. Several groups were formed inside the country after the civilians faced brutal suppression from the government. A series of arrests and shootings followed the Arab Spring.

The government's brutal crackdown of peaceful protests resulted in an armed revolt against it.

Over the years the civil war in Syria resulted in the killing of over millions of civilians.

(With inputs from Reuters) 
&nbsp;

Syria’s chief opposition negotiator said on Sunday he was surprised by countries rebuilding ties with the Syrian government and urged them to revisit their decision.

Syria’s chief opposition negotiator said on Sunday he was surprised by countries rebuilding ties with the Syrian government and urged them to revisit their decision. "We have no power to stop this reconciliation, we hope it is not for free," Nasr Hariri told reporters in Riyadh. "Bashar al-Assad will remain a war criminal even if thousands of leaders had a handshake with him." The United Arab Emirates re-opened its embassy in Damascus last month and Bahrain said its embassy there and the Syrian diplomatic mission in Manama had been operating “without interruption”. The brutal all-out war in Syria is now coming to an end. Neighbouring countries have slowly started rebuilding ties with Syria, putting an end to its isolation in the region. Syria fell into a civil war in 2011 following the Arab Spring protest led by the civilians against the Bashar al-Assad government. The protests turned violent and an armed revolt broke out after some of the protesters took up guns. Several groups were formed inside the country after the civilians faced brutal suppression from the government. A series of arrests and shootings followed the Arab Spring. The government's brutal crackdown of peaceful protests resulted in an armed revolt against it. Over the years the civil war in Syria resulted in the killing of over millions of civilians. (With inputs from Reuters)

Syrian opposition says surprised by countries reconciling with Assad

A deal between Damascus and Syria's Kurds over their autonomous region in the country's north is "inevitable", a senior Kurdish military official said on Saturday, insisting that Kurdish forces should remain in the area.

Marginalised for decades, Syria's minority Kurds carved out a de facto autonomous region across some 30 per cent of the nation's territory after the devastating war broke out in 2011.

Kurdish forces, backed by a US-led coalition, spearheaded the fight in Syria against the Islamic State group after the jihadists seized large parts of the country and neighbouring Iraq in 2014.

But Washington's shock December announcement that it would withdraw its troops from Syria pushed the Kurds to seek a new alliance with President Bashar al-Assad's regime, amid fears of a long-expected Turkish assault against Kurdish forces.

Redur Khalil, a commander in the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces alliance, told AFP that Kurdish authorities and Damascus were bound to reach a deal.

"Reaching a solution between the autonomous administration and the Syrian government is inevitable because our areas are part of Syria," said Khalil.

Syrian government forces deployed late last month around the key city of Manbij in Aleppo province, after Kurdish forces called for them to arrive.

"Negotiations are ongoing with the government to reach a final formulation for administering the city of Manbij," Khalil told AFP, adding that talks had shown "positive signs".

If that leads to a solution that "protects the rights" of Manbij residents, a similar arrangement could be applied to SDF-controlled areas of Deir Ezzor province, east of the Euphrates river, he said.

The deployment of government forces along the Turkish border could not be ruled out, he added.

Ankara views the SDF's Kurdish fighters as "terrorists", in cahoots with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has been fighting Turkish troops since 1984.

"We still have some differences with the central government, which need negotiations with international support," Khalil said, adding that regime backer Russia could act as a guarantor state.

Outstanding issues include the form of government in Kurdish regions and the future of Kurdish forces stationed there, he said.

"The tasks of these forces could change, but we will not withdraw from our territory," Khalil said, adding Kurdish fighters could be integrated into the Syrian army.&nbsp;

He also called for a new constitution that would guarantee Kurdish rights.

Sparked by the brutal repression of anti-Assad protests in 2011, Syria's multi-fronted conflict has killed more than 360,000 people and displaced millions at home and abroad.

A deal between Damascus and Syria's Kurds over their autonomous region in the country's north is "inevitable", a senior Kurdish military official said on Saturday, insisting that Kurdish forces should remain in the area.

A deal between Damascus and Syria's Kurds over their autonomous region in the country's north is "inevitable", a senior Kurdish military official said on Saturday, insisting that Kurdish forces should remain in the area. Marginalised for decades, Syria's minority Kurds carved out a de facto autonomous region across some 30 per cent of the nation's territory after the devastating war broke out in 2011. Kurdish forces, backed by a US-led coalition, spearheaded the fight in Syria against the Islamic State group after the jihadists seized large parts of the country and neighbouring Iraq in 2014. But Washington's shock December announcement that it would withdraw its troops from Syria pushed the Kurds to seek a new alliance with President Bashar al-Assad's regime, amid fears of a long-expected Turkish assault against Kurdish forces. Redur Khalil, a commander in the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces alliance, told AFP that Kurdish authorities and Damascus were bound to reach a deal. "Reaching a solution between the autonomous administration and the Syrian government is inevitable because our areas are part of Syria," said Khalil. Syrian government forces deployed late last month around the key city of Manbij in Aleppo province, after Kurdish forces called for them to arrive. "Negotiations are ongoing with the government to reach a final formulation for administering the city of Manbij," Khalil told AFP, adding that talks had shown "positive signs". If that leads to a solution that "protects the rights" of Manbij residents, a similar arrangement could be applied to SDF-controlled areas of Deir Ezzor province, east of the Euphrates river, he said. The deployment of government forces along the Turkish border could not be ruled out, he added. Ankara views the SDF's Kurdish fighters as "terrorists", in cahoots with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has been fighting Turkish troops since 1984. "We still have some differences with the central government, which need negotiations with international support," Khalil said, adding that regime backer Russia could act as a guarantor state. Outstanding issues include the form of government in Kurdish regions and the future of Kurdish forces stationed there, he said. "The tasks of these forces could change, but we will not withdraw from our territory," Khalil said, adding Kurdish fighters could be integrated into the Syrian army. He also called for a new constitution that would guarantee Kurdish rights. Sparked by the brutal repression of anti-Assad protests in 2011, Syria's multi-fronted conflict has killed more than 360,000 people and displaced millions at home and abroad.

Deal with Syria regime 'inevitable': Kurdish commander

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday offered a rather stark take on the situation in war-wracked Syria, summing it up in two words -- "sand and death" -- while remaining vague about the timing of the withdrawal of US troops.

"So Syria was lost long ago. It was lost long ago. And besides that, I don't want -- we're talking about sand and death. That's what we're talking about," Trump said during a cabinet meeting.

"We're not talking about vast wealth. We're talking about sand and death."

On when US forces would leave Syria, Trump said: "I don't want to be in Syria forever."

But after saying troops would come home right away, and that the Islamic State group was defeated, he didn't give any specific timetable.

"I never said we are getting out overnight," Trump said.

"Oh, we're withdrawing," he added, saying only that it would happen "over a period of time."

On Monday, the Republican president said the United States was "slowly sending" troops home -- a markedly different tone than he used in his initial announcement of a withdrawal on December 19.

"Our boys, our young women, our men -- they're all coming back and they're coming back now," he said in a video message that day.

The United States has about 2,000 troops -- most of them special forces -- deployed in northern Syria to fight IS and reinforce anti-jihadist forces.

Top-ranking US military officials had repeatedly warned against a hasty retreat from Syria, which they say could leave the door open in Syria to allies of President Bashar al-Assad -- notably Russia and Iran.

Trump's defense secretary Jim Mattis resigned over the decision to leave Syria, as did the administration's special envoy to the anti-IS coalition, Brett McGurk.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday offered a rather stark take on the situation in war-wracked Syria, summing it up in two words -- "sand and death" -- while remaining vague about the timing of the withdrawal of US troops.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday offered a rather stark take on the situation in war-wracked Syria, summing it up in two words -- "sand and death" -- while remaining vague about the timing of the withdrawal of US troops. "So Syria was lost long ago. It was lost long ago. And besides that, I don't want -- we're talking about sand and death. That's what we're talking about," Trump said during a cabinet meeting. "We're not talking about vast wealth. We're talking about sand and death." On when US forces would leave Syria, Trump said: "I don't want to be in Syria forever." But after saying troops would come home right away, and that the Islamic State group was defeated, he didn't give any specific timetable. "I never said we are getting out overnight," Trump said. "Oh, we're withdrawing," he added, saying only that it would happen "over a period of time." On Monday, the Republican president said the United States was "slowly sending" troops home -- a markedly different tone than he used in his initial announcement of a withdrawal on December 19. "Our boys, our young women, our men -- they're all coming back and they're coming back now," he said in a video message that day. The United States has about 2,000 troops -- most of them special forces -- deployed in northern Syria to fight IS and reinforce anti-jihadist forces. Top-ranking US military officials had repeatedly warned against a hasty retreat from Syria, which they say could leave the door open in Syria to allies of President Bashar al-Assad -- notably Russia and Iran. Trump's defense secretary Jim Mattis resigned over the decision to leave Syria, as did the administration's special envoy to the anti-IS coalition, Brett McGurk.

Syria is 'sand and death': Donald Trump

The brutal all-out war in Syria&nbsp;is now coming to an end. Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, thanks to the fundamental Russian and Iranian military support, has emerged victorious against all odds.&nbsp;

Neighbouring countries have slowly started rebuilding ties with Syria, putting an end to its isolation in the region.&nbsp;

The United Arab Emirates <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/uae-reopens-damascus-embassy-after-seven-years-186907">reopened its embassy in Damascus</a> for the first time in seven years.

The UAE, as the majority of Gulf countries, had supported the anti-Assad opposition throughout the war.&nbsp;

Bahrain expressed support for the move, underlining that its embassy had kept functioning throughout the war.&nbsp;

Kuwait is said to be ready to restore ties with Damascus but says the decision must be taken by the Arab League which expelled Syria in 2011.&nbsp;

Rumour&nbsp;has it, member-states of the Arab League are weighing the possibility of gradually re-admitting Syria.

Algeria, one of the few states which did not sever ties with Syria, is said to be spearheading the diplomatic effort.

The Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir paid a visit to Damascus, becoming the first Arab leader to do so in seven years. Tunisia resumed its direct flights to Syria.&nbsp;

Re-opening ties with neighbouring Arab countries, even if they supported the armed opposition, is fundamental for Assad.&nbsp;

Assad managed to win the military conflict, but war does not end with the last bullet. Syria would need an enormous international effort to rebuild the country. Reconstruction cost alone is estimated to be staggering 400 billion dollars.

Breaking the isolation would help bring the Syrian economy back on track, manage the eventual return of millions of refugees, and punish those who committed crimes.&nbsp;

The Gulf countries also need to reconnect with Damascus if they want to counterweight Iranian and Turkish influence in the region.

Iran funded and armed tens of thousands of militia against anti-Assad armed opposition groups.

Shortly after Donald Trump announced that US troops would pull out from Syria, Turkey spoke about a new military offensive against Kurdish forces in northern Syria. Ankara considers the mainly-Kurdish YPG as a terrorist group.

Kurds reached out to the Syrian army, which is moving its soldiers to avoid a large-scale offensive.

If the Syrian government retakes control of the Kurdish areas and the border crossings with Turkey, Ankara is likely to refrain from launching a full-scale operation.

In return, Turkey could help keep under control the last rebel battalions holed up in the northern Syrian Idlib.&nbsp;

The future of Syria can only be determined amid regional and international cooperation. There is nothing Damascus can decide on its own.

This is the heavy price it pays for having become the terrain of a proxy war for hegemony in the region. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

The brutal all-out war in Syria is now coming to an end. Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, thanks to the fundamental Russian and Iranian military support, has emerged victorious against all odds.

The brutal all-out war in Syria is now coming to an end. Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, thanks to the fundamental Russian and Iranian military support, has emerged victorious against all odds. Neighbouring countries have slowly started rebuilding ties with Syria, putting an end to its isolation in the region. The United Arab Emirates reopened its embassy in Damascus for the first time in seven years. The UAE, as the majority of Gulf countries, had supported the anti-Assad opposition throughout the war. Bahrain expressed support for the move, underlining that its embassy had kept functioning throughout the war. Kuwait is said to be ready to restore ties with Damascus but says the decision must be taken by the Arab League which expelled Syria in 2011. Rumour has it, member-states of the Arab League are weighing the possibility of gradually re-admitting Syria. Algeria, one of the few states which did not sever ties with Syria, is said to be spearheading the diplomatic effort. The Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir paid a visit to Damascus, becoming the first Arab leader to do so in seven years. Tunisia resumed its direct flights to Syria. Re-opening ties with neighbouring Arab countries, even if they supported the armed opposition, is fundamental for Assad. Assad managed to win the military conflict, but war does not end with the last bullet. Syria would need an enormous international effort to rebuild the country. Reconstruction cost alone is estimated to be staggering 400 billion dollars. Breaking the isolation would help bring the Syrian economy back on track, manage the eventual return of millions of refugees, and punish those who committed crimes. The Gulf countries also need to reconnect with Damascus if they want to counterweight Iranian and Turkish influence in the region. Iran funded and armed tens of thousands of militia against anti-Assad armed opposition groups. Shortly after Donald Trump announced that US troops would pull out from Syria, Turkey spoke about a new military offensive against Kurdish forces in northern Syria. Ankara considers the mainly-Kurdish YPG as a terrorist group. Kurds reached out to the Syrian army, which is moving its soldiers to avoid a large-scale offensive. If the Syrian government retakes control of the Kurdish areas and the border crossings with Turkey, Ankara is likely to refrain from launching a full-scale operation. In return, Turkey could help keep under control the last rebel battalions holed up in the northern Syrian Idlib. The future of Syria can only be determined amid regional and international cooperation. There is nothing Damascus can decide on its own. This is the heavy price it pays for having become the terrain of a proxy war for hegemony in the region. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

With Arab countries embracing Syria again, is country's isolation finally over?

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday that the United States would continue to cooperate with Israel over Syria and in countering Iran in the Middle East, even as President Donald Trump plans to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said as he met with Pompeo in the Brazilian capital that he planned to discuss how to intensify intelligence and operations cooperation in Syria and elsewhere to block Iranian "aggression."

In his first public comments on Trump's decision, Pompeo said it "in no way changes anything that this administration is working on alongside Israel."

"The counter-ISIS campaign continues, our efforts to counter Iranian aggression continue and our commitment to Middle East stability and the protection of Israel continues in the same way it did before that decision was made," he said.

Trump announced last month that he planned to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria, declaring that they had succeeded in their mission to defeat Islamic State and were no longer needed in the country.

In making the announcement, Trump ignored the advice of top national security aides and did so without consulting lawmakers or US&nbsp;allies participating in anti-Islamic State operations. The decision prompted Jim Mattis to resign as defense secretary.

"We have a lot to discuss," said Netanyahu, who like Pompeo was in the Brazilian capital for the inauguration of Jair Bolsonaro as Brazil's new president.

"We’re going to be discussing our, the intense cooperation between Israel and the United States which will also deal with the questions following the decision, the American decision, on Syria and how to intensify even further our intelligence and operational cooperation in Syria and elsewhere to block Iranian aggression in the Middle East."Netanyahu said Israel was very appreciative of the "strong ... unequivocal support" Pompeo gave Israel's "efforts at self defense against Syria" in the past few days.

State Department spokesman Robert Palladino said Pompeo and Netanyahu “discussed the unacceptable threat that regional aggression and provocation by Iran and its agents poses to Israeli and regional security” and Pompeo reiterated the U.S. commitment to Israel’s security and right to self-defense.

Netanyahu said last month after Trump's announcement that Israel would escalate its fight against Iranian-aligned forces in Syria after the withdrawal of U.S. troops.

Israel sees the spread of Iran's influence in the Middle East as a growing threat, and has carried out scores of air strikes in civil war-torn Syria against suspected military deployments and arms deliveries by Iranian forces supporting Damascus.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday that the United States would continue to cooperate with Israel over Syria and in countering Iran in the Middle East, even as President Donald Trump plans to withdraw U.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday that the United States would continue to cooperate with Israel over Syria and in countering Iran in the Middle East, even as President Donald Trump plans to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said as he met with Pompeo in the Brazilian capital that he planned to discuss how to intensify intelligence and operations cooperation in Syria and elsewhere to block Iranian "aggression." In his first public comments on Trump's decision, Pompeo said it "in no way changes anything that this administration is working on alongside Israel." "The counter-ISIS campaign continues, our efforts to counter Iranian aggression continue and our commitment to Middle East stability and the protection of Israel continues in the same way it did before that decision was made," he said. Trump announced last month that he planned to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria, declaring that they had succeeded in their mission to defeat Islamic State and were no longer needed in the country. In making the announcement, Trump ignored the advice of top national security aides and did so without consulting lawmakers or US allies participating in anti-Islamic State operations. The decision prompted Jim Mattis to resign as defense secretary. "We have a lot to discuss," said Netanyahu, who like Pompeo was in the Brazilian capital for the inauguration of Jair Bolsonaro as Brazil's new president. "We’re going to be discussing our, the intense cooperation between Israel and the United States which will also deal with the questions following the decision, the American decision, on Syria and how to intensify even further our intelligence and operational cooperation in Syria and elsewhere to block Iranian aggression in the Middle East."Netanyahu said Israel was very appreciative of the "strong ... unequivocal support" Pompeo gave Israel's "efforts at self defense against Syria" in the past few days. State Department spokesman Robert Palladino said Pompeo and Netanyahu “discussed the unacceptable threat that regional aggression and provocation by Iran and its agents poses to Israeli and regional security” and Pompeo reiterated the U.S. commitment to Israel’s security and right to self-defense. Netanyahu said last month after Trump's announcement that Israel would escalate its fight against Iranian-aligned forces in Syria after the withdrawal of U.S. troops. Israel sees the spread of Iran's influence in the Middle East as a growing threat, and has carried out scores of air strikes in civil war-torn Syria against suspected military deployments and arms deliveries by Iranian forces supporting Damascus.

Mike Pompeo says cooperation with Israel over Syria and Iran to continue

President Donald Trump appeared to backtrack Monday on shock plans for an immediate pullout of US troops from Syria, but said his drive to end American involvement in wars made him a "hero."

The shift came a day after a senior Republican senator said Trump had promised to stay in Syria to finish the job of defeating the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS.

Trump had earlier stunned allies -- and prompted the resignation of his respected defense secretary, Jim Mattis -- by abruptly announcing that the jihadists were defeated and that US troops in Syria were ready to leave.

However, in a tweet early Monday, Trump seemed to signal a more cautious schedule for pulling out the troops, which provide crucial support to Kurdish and other local forces.

"We're slowly sending our troops back home to be with their families, while at the same time fighting ISIS remnants," Trump wrote.

In contrast to previously emphatic victory declarations, Trump said that "ISIS is mostly gone."

But reflecting his frustration at the outpouring of criticism over his Syria strategy, Trump lashed out at opponents and the media, saying that he should be given more credit.

"If anybody but Donald Trump did what I did in Syria, which was an ISIS loaded mess when I became President, they would be a national hero," Trump tweeted.

"The results are FAR BETTER than I ever said they were going to be! I campaigned against the NEVER ENDING WARS, remember!" he added.

Trump also wants to bring home about half of the 14,000 soldiers locked in a 17-year war against Afghanistan's Taliban guerrillas, although no formal announcement has been made.

In Syria, about 2,000 US soldiers operate alongside other foreign troops to assist local fighters battling Islamic State, a jihadist group that once held territory across much of Iraq and Syria and set up its own ultra-Islamist government.

Though much reduced, and forced into hiding, it is still believed to comprise thousands of guerrillas.

The US-led coalition launched its first raids against IS in September, 2014, more than two years before Trump won the US election. US-backed forces seized the jihadists' self-declared capital Raqa on October 17, 2017.

- Allies worried - 
Part of Trump's appeal in his surprise 2016 election victory was his promise to get the United States out of post-9/11 wars in the Middle East.

During a lightning visit to US troops based in Iraq last week, Trump said the United States would no longer be the world's "policeman".

"We're in countries that most people have never even heard about," he said, referring to US combat deployments, including in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.

"We don't want to be taken advantage of any more by countries that use us," he said.

The view is popular with many Americans, but critics, including some of Washington's closest allies, say the United States cannot abandon its traditional leadership role.

"The impromptu announcement of the US withdrawal from (Syria) caused a lot of questions," French Defense Minister Florence Parly said Monday on a visit to French personnel stationed in Jordan. "Our priority is to continue until the end."

On Friday, Britain's foreign minister, Jeremy Hunt, was less diplomatic, telling Radio 4 that Trump "makes a specialty of talking in very black and white terms about what's happening in the world."

Those concerns are shared at the top of Trump's own Republican party.

Leading Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, one of Trump's principal allies in an increasingly unfriendly Congress, used lunch at the White House on Sunday to urge the president to reevaluate on Syria.

After two hours, he emerged, saying Trump "understands the need to finish the job."

"I think the president is committed to making sure when we leave Syria that ISIS is completely defeated," Graham said.

In response to the uproar, Trump national security advisor John Bolton will soon visit allies Turkey and Israel, which each have their own complex goals in Syria's multi-dimensional civil war.

President Donald Trump appeared to backtrack Monday on shock plans for an immediate pullout of US troops from Syria, but said his drive to end American involvement in wars made him a "hero.

President Donald Trump appeared to backtrack Monday on shock plans for an immediate pullout of US troops from Syria, but said his drive to end American involvement in wars made him a "hero." The shift came a day after a senior Republican senator said Trump had promised to stay in Syria to finish the job of defeating the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS. Trump had earlier stunned allies -- and prompted the resignation of his respected defense secretary, Jim Mattis -- by abruptly announcing that the jihadists were defeated and that US troops in Syria were ready to leave. However, in a tweet early Monday, Trump seemed to signal a more cautious schedule for pulling out the troops, which provide crucial support to Kurdish and other local forces. "We're slowly sending our troops back home to be with their families, while at the same time fighting ISIS remnants," Trump wrote. In contrast to previously emphatic victory declarations, Trump said that "ISIS is mostly gone." But reflecting his frustration at the outpouring of criticism over his Syria strategy, Trump lashed out at opponents and the media, saying that he should be given more credit. "If anybody but Donald Trump did what I did in Syria, which was an ISIS loaded mess when I became President, they would be a national hero," Trump tweeted. "The results are FAR BETTER than I ever said they were going to be! I campaigned against the NEVER ENDING WARS, remember!" he added. Trump also wants to bring home about half of the 14,000 soldiers locked in a 17-year war against Afghanistan's Taliban guerrillas, although no formal announcement has been made. In Syria, about 2,000 US soldiers operate alongside other foreign troops to assist local fighters battling Islamic State, a jihadist group that once held territory across much of Iraq and Syria and set up its own ultra-Islamist government. Though much reduced, and forced into hiding, it is still believed to comprise thousands of guerrillas. The US-led coalition launched its first raids against IS in September, 2014, more than two years before Trump won the US election. US-backed forces seized the jihadists' self-declared capital Raqa on October 17, 2017. - Allies worried - Part of Trump's appeal in his surprise 2016 election victory was his promise to get the United States out of post-9/11 wars in the Middle East. During a lightning visit to US troops based in Iraq last week, Trump said the United States would no longer be the world's "policeman". "We're in countries that most people have never even heard about," he said, referring to US combat deployments, including in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. "We don't want to be taken advantage of any more by countries that use us," he said. The view is popular with many Americans, but critics, including some of Washington's closest allies, say the United States cannot abandon its traditional leadership role. "The impromptu announcement of the US withdrawal from (Syria) caused a lot of questions," French Defense Minister Florence Parly said Monday on a visit to French personnel stationed in Jordan. "Our priority is to continue until the end." On Friday, Britain's foreign minister, Jeremy Hunt, was less diplomatic, telling Radio 4 that Trump "makes a specialty of talking in very black and white terms about what's happening in the world." Those concerns are shared at the top of Trump's own Republican party. Leading Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, one of Trump's principal allies in an increasingly unfriendly Congress, used lunch at the White House on Sunday to urge the president to reevaluate on Syria. After two hours, he emerged, saying Trump "understands the need to finish the job." "I think the president is committed to making sure when we leave Syria that ISIS is completely defeated," Graham said. In response to the uproar, Trump national security advisor John Bolton will soon visit allies Turkey and Israel, which each have their own complex goals in Syria's multi-dimensional civil war.

Trump appears to slow Syria troop pullout plan

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/iran-says-afghan-taliban-were-in-tehran-for-peace-talks-187561">The Taliban discussed</a> Afghanistan's "post-occupation situation" with Iran in their latest meeting, the group said Tuesday, as Tehran makes a more concerted and open push for peace ahead of a possible US drawdown.

The remarks come after Iran confirmed Monday that the Taliban had visited Tehran for the second round of talks in just a few days that are aimed at ending the 17-year conflict.

The Taliban delegation discussed with Iran "the post-occupation situation, restoration of peace and security in Afghanistan and the region", the militants said in a statement posted on social media and emailed to journalists.

It signals growing confidence among the Taliban for US troops to pull out of Afghanistan, after US officials last month told various media outlets that President Donald Trump had decided to slash the number of boots on the ground.

There have been reports in the past of talks between Iran and the Taliban, but they have typically been denied by Tehran.

Tehran's peace push will be viewed with concern by hawks in Washington, who fear that Trump's planned withdrawal of troops from Syria and Afghanistan will cede regional influence to Iran.

The Taliban also met with the United States, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in the United Arab Emirates earlier in December as part of a flurry of diplomatic efforts to end the war.

But the Taliban refused to meet a delegation from Afghanistan. The group said Saturday its representatives would not meet "with those of the Kabul administration" at the next meeting expected to be held in Saudi Arabia later this month.

Iran's deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi will travel to Afghanistan in the next two weeks, the foreign ministry said, without giving further details.

Iran and Afghanistan share a nearly 600-mile (960-kilometre) border and have had a complex relationship in recent years.

Tehran has long supported its co-religionists in Afghanistan, the Shia Hazara minority, who were violently persecuted by the Taliban during its rule in the 1990s. Iran worked alongside the United States and Western powers to help drive out the Taliban after the US-led invasion in 2001.

But there have been allegations, from Western and Afghan sources, that Iran's Revolutionary Guards have in recent years established ties with the Taliban aimed at driving out US forces from Afghanistan.&nbsp;

The Taliban delegation discussed with Iran 'the post-occupation situation, restoration of peace and security in Afghanistan and the region', the militants said.

The Taliban discussed Afghanistan's "post-occupation situation" with Iran in their latest meeting, the group said Tuesday, as Tehran makes a more concerted and open push for peace ahead of a possible US drawdown. The remarks come after Iran confirmed Monday that the Taliban had visited Tehran for the second round of talks in just a few days that are aimed at ending the 17-year conflict. The Taliban delegation discussed with Iran "the post-occupation situation, restoration of peace and security in Afghanistan and the region", the militants said in a statement posted on social media and emailed to journalists. It signals growing confidence among the Taliban for US troops to pull out of Afghanistan, after US officials last month told various media outlets that President Donald Trump had decided to slash the number of boots on the ground. There have been reports in the past of talks between Iran and the Taliban, but they have typically been denied by Tehran. Tehran's peace push will be viewed with concern by hawks in Washington, who fear that Trump's planned withdrawal of troops from Syria and Afghanistan will cede regional influence to Iran. The Taliban also met with the United States, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in the United Arab Emirates earlier in December as part of a flurry of diplomatic efforts to end the war. But the Taliban refused to meet a delegation from Afghanistan. The group said Saturday its representatives would not meet "with those of the Kabul administration" at the next meeting expected to be held in Saudi Arabia later this month. Iran's deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi will travel to Afghanistan in the next two weeks, the foreign ministry said, without giving further details. Iran and Afghanistan share a nearly 600-mile (960-kilometre) border and have had a complex relationship in recent years. Tehran has long supported its co-religionists in Afghanistan, the Shia Hazara minority, who were violently persecuted by the Taliban during its rule in the 1990s. Iran worked alongside the United States and Western powers to help drive out the Taliban after the US-led invasion in 2001. But there have been allegations, from Western and Afghan sources, that Iran's Revolutionary Guards have in recent years established ties with the Taliban aimed at driving out US forces from Afghanistan.

Afghan Taliban says 'post-occupation' discussed with Iran

Patrick Shanahan, who on Tuesday becomes the acting US secretary of defence, takes the helm of America's massive military machine at a critical time.

Shanahan is moving up from his position as deputy defence secretary to the top spot following <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-to-replace-jim-mattis-with-deputy-patrick-shanahan-186048">the resignation of Jim Mattis</a>, who quit over long-running - and ultimately irreconcilable - disagreements with President Donald Trump.

Little known outside business and Washington circles, Shanahan will be thrust onto the world stage at a time of tumultuous changes and unpredictable foreign policy moves under Trump.

The president this month ordered the withdrawal of all US forces from Syria and, according to US officials, a 50 per cent drawdown in Afghanistan —momentous decisions that have left lawmakers and international allies fearing for what comes next.

Shanahan must now oversee the US withdrawal from Syria and play a key role in helping Trump decide the pace of the pull-out.

Another consideration he must weigh is what, if any, protections should go to Kurdish forces that the US military had been backing to fight Islamic State jihadists.

Turkey views the Kurdish YPG fighters as "terrorists" and has vowed to attack them in northern Syria.

While Shanahan has not always had day-to-day involvement in thorny geopolitical issues like this, Pentagon officials say he is ready to tackle them.

"He's had 18 months to observe all of these operations, he's been in all of the meetings, he's been in all the discussions, he's briefed the White House," Shanahan's spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Joe Buccino, told AFP.

A Washington state native, the 56-year-old Shanahan spent more than three decades at Boeing, where he became senior vice president, worked on missile defence systems and was general manager of the 787 Dreamliner program.

Trump announced Shanahan's appointment in a December 23 tweet that also brought Mattis's planned departure date forward by two months.

According to US media, Trump was angry over news coverage of Mattis's stinging resignation letter that laid bare his fundamental disagreements with the president.

Despite a lack of foreign policy or military experience, Shanahan's executive and technical knowledge made him well suited for the Pentagon's number two position, which focuses more on the Defence Department's business side.

In his time as deputy, the soft-spoken Shanahan played a key role in helping Mattis and others develop vital policy documents such as the National Defence Strategy (NDS), a sweeping review that highlights a new era of "Great Power competition" with Russia and China.

He also has voiced support for Trump's aim of creating a "Space Force," a sixth branch of the military that still needs approval from the US Congress.

Buccino pointed to the NDS as a key area for Shanahan's focus. "He sees the national defence strategy as the blueprint, as the guide for all actions, directions, policies for the Pentagon," Buccino said.

Before starting at the Pentagon in July 2017, Shanahan's lack of foreign policy chops got him in hot water with the late John McCain, the senior Republican senator who led the Senate Armed Services Committee.

At his confirmation hearing, an irascible McCain said a lack of detail in some of Shanahan's foreign policy answers was "almost insulting." McCain also expressed concerns that putting a former executive from a defence industry giant in the Pentagon could be akin to putting a fox "back into the henhouse."&nbsp;

International allies will look to Shanahan, as they did to Mattis, for reassurances about America's commitment to longstanding alliances - even as Trump assails partner nations for not paying more for their defence.

Shanahan must tread a careful line with the mercurial president, especially if he wants to get rid of the "acting" prefix of his job title.

Trump has shown an aversion to listening to dissenting advice and has parted company with many of the top aides to have challenged him.

He fired secretary of state Rex Tillerson, former national security advisor HR McMaster resigned, and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly is on his way out the door.

An official close to Shanahan said he would feel comfortable giving Trump an opposing opinion if necessary.

"His entire adult life, Shanahan has provided a dissenting voice to leadership when needed," the official said.

"He would have no qualms doing that."

Patrick Shanahan, who on Tuesday becomes the acting US secretary of defence, takes the helm of America's massive military machine at a critical time. Shanahan is moving up from his position as deputy defence secretary to the top spot following the resignation of Jim Mattis, who quit over long-running - and ultimately irreconcilable - disagreements with President Donald Trump.

Patrick Shanahan, who on Tuesday becomes the acting US secretary of defence, takes the helm of America's massive military machine at a critical time. Shanahan is moving up from his position as deputy defence secretary to the top spot following the resignation of Jim Mattis, who quit over long-running - and ultimately irreconcilable - disagreements with President Donald Trump. Little known outside business and Washington circles, Shanahan will be thrust onto the world stage at a time of tumultuous changes and unpredictable foreign policy moves under Trump. The president this month ordered the withdrawal of all US forces from Syria and, according to US officials, a 50 per cent drawdown in Afghanistan —momentous decisions that have left lawmakers and international allies fearing for what comes next. Shanahan must now oversee the US withdrawal from Syria and play a key role in helping Trump decide the pace of the pull-out. Another consideration he must weigh is what, if any, protections should go to Kurdish forces that the US military had been backing to fight Islamic State jihadists. Turkey views the Kurdish YPG fighters as "terrorists" and has vowed to attack them in northern Syria. While Shanahan has not always had day-to-day involvement in thorny geopolitical issues like this, Pentagon officials say he is ready to tackle them. "He's had 18 months to observe all of these operations, he's been in all of the meetings, he's been in all the discussions, he's briefed the White House," Shanahan's spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Joe Buccino, told AFP. A Washington state native, the 56-year-old Shanahan spent more than three decades at Boeing, where he became senior vice president, worked on missile defence systems and was general manager of the 787 Dreamliner program. Trump announced Shanahan's appointment in a December 23 tweet that also brought Mattis's planned departure date forward by two months. According to US media, Trump was angry over news coverage of Mattis's stinging resignation letter that laid bare his fundamental disagreements with the president. Despite a lack of foreign policy or military experience, Shanahan's executive and technical knowledge made him well suited for the Pentagon's number two position, which focuses more on the Defence Department's business side. In his time as deputy, the soft-spoken Shanahan played a key role in helping Mattis and others develop vital policy documents such as the National Defence Strategy (NDS), a sweeping review that highlights a new era of "Great Power competition" with Russia and China. He also has voiced support for Trump's aim of creating a "Space Force," a sixth branch of the military that still needs approval from the US Congress. Buccino pointed to the NDS as a key area for Shanahan's focus. "He sees the national defence strategy as the blueprint, as the guide for all actions, directions, policies for the Pentagon," Buccino said. Before starting at the Pentagon in July 2017, Shanahan's lack of foreign policy chops got him in hot water with the late John McCain, the senior Republican senator who led the Senate Armed Services Committee. At his confirmation hearing, an irascible McCain said a lack of detail in some of Shanahan's foreign policy answers was "almost insulting." McCain also expressed concerns that putting a former executive from a defence industry giant in the Pentagon could be akin to putting a fox "back into the henhouse." International allies will look to Shanahan, as they did to Mattis, for reassurances about America's commitment to longstanding alliances - even as Trump assails partner nations for not paying more for their defence. Shanahan must tread a careful line with the mercurial president, especially if he wants to get rid of the "acting" prefix of his job title. Trump has shown an aversion to listening to dissenting advice and has parted company with many of the top aides to have challenged him. He fired secretary of state Rex Tillerson, former national security advisor HR McMaster resigned, and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly is on his way out the door. An official close to Shanahan said he would feel comfortable giving Trump an opposing opinion if necessary. "His entire adult life, Shanahan has provided a dissenting voice to leadership when needed," the official said. "He would have no qualms doing that."

After Jim Mattis, Patrick Shanahan takes Pentagon helm at critical time

Iraq's prime minister said on Sunday that top security officials from Baghdad had met Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, and hinted at a bigger Iraqi role fighting Islamic State militants as US&nbsp;troops withdraw from Syria.

"This issue has a lot of complications," Adel Abdul Mahdi told reporters, referring to US&nbsp;President Donald Trump's surprise announcement this month that he will withdraw US&nbsp;forces from Iraq's neighbour.

"If any negative development takes place in Syria it will affect us. We have a 600 km (400 mile) border with Syria and Daesh (Islamic State) is there," Abdul Mahdi said.

The premier said the Iraqi delegation had visited Damascus to "gain the initiative, not just deal with the consequences" of any future Islamic State (IS) activity emboldened by the US&nbsp;withdrawal. Iraqi news websites said the visit took place on Saturday.

Abdul Mahdi said Iraq sought to move beyond its current arrangement with Syria - under which it launches air strikes against Islamic State militants in Syrian territory - but did not got into more details.

"There are groups operating in Syria, and Iraq is the best way to deal with this," he said, responding to a question about the possibility of increased involvement of Iraqi forces in Syria.

Iraqi Shi'ite Muslim paramilitary groups backed by Iran already operate inside Syrian territory against the Sunni Muslim militants of Islamic State.&nbsp;

Abdul Mahdi has previously said that about 2,000 Islamic State fighters are operating near the border in Syria and trying to cross into Iraq.&nbsp;

Islamic State was militarily defeated in Iraq in 2017, but has continued to launch guerilla-style attacks on security forces in the north of the country. 
&nbsp;

Iraq's prime minister said on Sunday that top security officials from Baghdad had met Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, and hinted at a bigger Iraqi role fighting Islamic State militants as US troops withdraw from Syria.

Iraq's prime minister said on Sunday that top security officials from Baghdad had met Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, and hinted at a bigger Iraqi role fighting Islamic State militants as US troops withdraw from Syria. "This issue has a lot of complications," Adel Abdul Mahdi told reporters, referring to US President Donald Trump's surprise announcement this month that he will withdraw US forces from Iraq's neighbour. "If any negative development takes place in Syria it will affect us. We have a 600 km (400 mile) border with Syria and Daesh (Islamic State) is there," Abdul Mahdi said. The premier said the Iraqi delegation had visited Damascus to "gain the initiative, not just deal with the consequences" of any future Islamic State (IS) activity emboldened by the US withdrawal. Iraqi news websites said the visit took place on Saturday. Abdul Mahdi said Iraq sought to move beyond its current arrangement with Syria - under which it launches air strikes against Islamic State militants in Syrian territory - but did not got into more details. "There are groups operating in Syria, and Iraq is the best way to deal with this," he said, responding to a question about the possibility of increased involvement of Iraqi forces in Syria. Iraqi Shi'ite Muslim paramilitary groups backed by Iran already operate inside Syrian territory against the Sunni Muslim militants of Islamic State. Abdul Mahdi has previously said that about 2,000 Islamic State fighters are operating near the border in Syria and trying to cross into Iraq. Islamic State was militarily defeated in Iraq in 2017, but has continued to launch guerilla-style attacks on security forces in the north of the country.

Iraq hints at bigger role in Syria after US withdrawal

Syria's nearly eight-year-old conflict saw its lowest annual death toll in 2018 as the regime reasserted its authority over swathes of territory, a war monitor said on Monday.

A total of 19,666 people were killed this year as a result of the conflict, which erupted in 2011, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group reported.

"2018 was the lowest annual toll since the start of the conflict," Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.

The Britain-based monitor relies on a vast network of sources across Syria to document the war that broke out after the brutal repression of nationwide anti-regime protests in 2011.

The death toll for 2017 stood at more than 33,000 and the highest annual figure was reached in 2014 -- the year the Islamic State jihadist group proclaimed a "caliphate" over large parts of Syria and neighbouring Iraq -- when 76,000 people were killed.

Among those killed in 2018 were 6,349 civilians, 1,437 of them children, Abdel Rahman said.

Eastern Ghouta

"Most of those killed during the first part of the year were killed in regime and Russian bombardment of opposition areas, including Eastern Ghouta," Abdel Rahman said.

"The majority of those killed in the second half of the year were killed in coalition air strikes," he added.

The first months of 2018 were marked by major Russian-backed government operations to retake rebel and jihadist bastions in and around the capital Damascus.

The bloodiest of them was an assault on Eastern Ghouta, a densely-populated area east of Damascus that remained besieged for years.

The most active front of the past few months has been the battle against the remnants of the Islamic State group in eastern Syria.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), backed by a US-led coalition carrying out air strikes, launched an offensive on September 10.

Jihadist fighters defending the last rump of their once sprawling proto-state, near the Iraqi border along the Euphrates River, have put up fierce resistance but seem close to collapsing.

While fighting has ended or is winding down in several parts of the country, 2019 could see its share of military flare-ups.

Threatened Turkish offensive

Besides the continued threat posed by IS sleeper cells even after it loses its last pocket in eastern Syria, two other areas remain of concern.

Turkey has threatened a major offensive against the Kurdish militia that controls regions along its border in northeastern Syria.

The announcement made by Donald Trump two weeks ago that he had ordered a full troop pullout from Syria left the US-led coalition's Kurdish allies more exposed.

Thousands of rebel fighters and jihadists also remain in Idlib, a northern province where many of them were transferred as a result of deals to end government assaults on other areas across the country.

Under an agreement reached in Russia, Turkey was tasked with disarming some of the groups active in Idlib but little progress has been achieved.

President Bashar al-Assad has consistently said that his forces would seek to reconquer the entire Syrian territory.

According to the Observatory, the government and its allies now controls 60.2 per cent of Syrian territory, while the SDF hold 28.8 per cent.

The Kurds last week asked for the regime's help against the threat of a Turkish offensive, a move that will put pay to their ambitions of increased autonomy.

By comparison, the US-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project puts the number of conflict-related deaths in Afghanistan at more than 40,000 this year.

Syria's nearly eight-year-old conflict saw its lowest annual death toll in 2018 as the regime reasserted its authority over swathes of territory, a war monitor said on Monday.

Syria's nearly eight-year-old conflict saw its lowest annual death toll in 2018 as the regime reasserted its authority over swathes of territory, a war monitor said on Monday. A total of 19,666 people were killed this year as a result of the conflict, which erupted in 2011, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group reported. "2018 was the lowest annual toll since the start of the conflict," Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP. The Britain-based monitor relies on a vast network of sources across Syria to document the war that broke out after the brutal repression of nationwide anti-regime protests in 2011. The death toll for 2017 stood at more than 33,000 and the highest annual figure was reached in 2014 -- the year the Islamic State jihadist group proclaimed a "caliphate" over large parts of Syria and neighbouring Iraq -- when 76,000 people were killed. Among those killed in 2018 were 6,349 civilians, 1,437 of them children, Abdel Rahman said. Eastern Ghouta "Most of those killed during the first part of the year were killed in regime and Russian bombardment of opposition areas, including Eastern Ghouta," Abdel Rahman said. "The majority of those killed in the second half of the year were killed in coalition air strikes," he added. The first months of 2018 were marked by major Russian-backed government operations to retake rebel and jihadist bastions in and around the capital Damascus. The bloodiest of them was an assault on Eastern Ghouta, a densely-populated area east of Damascus that remained besieged for years. The most active front of the past few months has been the battle against the remnants of the Islamic State group in eastern Syria. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), backed by a US-led coalition carrying out air strikes, launched an offensive on September 10. Jihadist fighters defending the last rump of their once sprawling proto-state, near the Iraqi border along the Euphrates River, have put up fierce resistance but seem close to collapsing. While fighting has ended or is winding down in several parts of the country, 2019 could see its share of military flare-ups. Threatened Turkish offensive Besides the continued threat posed by IS sleeper cells even after it loses its last pocket in eastern Syria, two other areas remain of concern. Turkey has threatened a major offensive against the Kurdish militia that controls regions along its border in northeastern Syria. The announcement made by Donald Trump two weeks ago that he had ordered a full troop pullout from Syria left the US-led coalition's Kurdish allies more exposed. Thousands of rebel fighters and jihadists also remain in Idlib, a northern province where many of them were transferred as a result of deals to end government assaults on other areas across the country. Under an agreement reached in Russia, Turkey was tasked with disarming some of the groups active in Idlib but little progress has been achieved. President Bashar al-Assad has consistently said that his forces would seek to reconquer the entire Syrian territory. According to the Observatory, the government and its allies now controls 60.2 per cent of Syrian territory, while the SDF hold 28.8 per cent. The Kurds last week asked for the regime's help against the threat of a Turkish offensive, a move that will put pay to their ambitions of increased autonomy. By comparison, the US-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project puts the number of conflict-related deaths in Afghanistan at more than 40,000 this year.

In 8 years of war, Syria records lowest death toll with over 19,000 killed in 2018

Senior Republican senator Lindsey Graham said Sunday that President Donald Trump had promised to stay in Syria to finish the job of destroying the Islamic State group -- just days after announcing he would be withdrawing troops immediately.

"The president understands the need to finish the job," Graham told reporters outside the White House after what he described as a two-hour lunch meeting.

"He told me some things I didn't know that made me feel a lot better about where we're headed in Syria," the South Carolina lawmaker said.

"I think the president is committed to making sure when we leave Syria that ISIS is completely defeated and we are inside the 10-yard line," he said, using an alternative name for the Islamic State group.

When Trump tweeted on December 19 that "we have defeated ISIS in Syria," several military and security experts said he was overstating the case, and warned against a hasty withdrawal.

'Thinking long and hard'

Graham said Trump was "thinking long and hard about Syria and how to withdraw the forces" after ensuring that ISIS is destroyed, that US-allied Kurdish forces are protected and that "Iran doesn't become the big winner of our leaving."&nbsp;

Graham, who as a member of the Armed Services committee has frequently visited US troops in combat zones, was once a frequent critic of Trump but, reversing course, now frequently defends him and seems to have gained privileged access to the president's ear.

The senator's remarks after the White House meeting were considerably modulated from his tone earlier in the day, when he told ABC television's "This Week" that "if we leave (Syria) now, the Kurds will get slaughtered."

"I'm going to ask the president to do something that President Obama would never do: reconsider," he said.

Graham said he knew Trump was "frustrated" by his limited options in Syria.

"The president is reconsidering how we would do this," Graham said.

"I get it. We're not the policemen of the world here."

He added: "I'm going to ask him to sit down with his generals and reconsider how to do this. Slow it down. Make sure we get it right."

A Trump announcement?

Kellyanne Conway, a close Trump advisor, seemed to hint that the president might be rethinking his withdrawal plans.

"In Iraq he had a closed-door meeting and he said watch what happens... Watch what happens because he's got plans and I won't get ahead of his announcement, but he did want me to convey that," she said on "Fox News Sunday."

Trump's abrupt decision on Syria stunned regional players, US politicians of both parties and military leaders, who expressed surprise that such a major decision would be announced after apparently so little advance consultation, against the advice of his national security advisors -- and on Twitter.

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis resigned following the announcement, which came on the same day that US officials said Trump was also planning a significant drawdown in Afghanistan, with some reports suggesting as many as half of the 14,000 troops could leave.

Graham warned at the time that a reduction now of US forces in war-torn Afghanistan risked "paving the way toward a second 9/11."

Another prominent critic of the move was retired US army general Stanley McChrystal, the former commander of US and international forces in Afghanistan.

On Sunday, he told ABC that the dual drawdowns could seriously weaken US influence in the region.

"We have a tumultuous regime or region (in Syria) that now has a Russian presence which had been out for about 30 years," he said.&nbsp;

"Iran has increased influence across the region now. If you pull American influence out, you're likely to have greater instability."

Similarly, he said, Trump's planned drawdown in Afghanistan could seriously undercut American leverage there.

"Just when we were starting to sit down with the Taliban, just as we were starting to begin negotiations, he basically traded away the biggest leverage point we have," McChrystal added.

Senior Republican senator Lindsey Graham said Sunday that President Donald Trump had promised to stay in Syria to finish the job of destroying the Islamic State group -- just days after announcing he would be withdrawing troops immediately.

Senior Republican senator Lindsey Graham said Sunday that President Donald Trump had promised to stay in Syria to finish the job of destroying the Islamic State group -- just days after announcing he would be withdrawing troops immediately. "The president understands the need to finish the job," Graham told reporters outside the White House after what he described as a two-hour lunch meeting. "He told me some things I didn't know that made me feel a lot better about where we're headed in Syria," the South Carolina lawmaker said. "I think the president is committed to making sure when we leave Syria that ISIS is completely defeated and we are inside the 10-yard line," he said, using an alternative name for the Islamic State group. When Trump tweeted on December 19 that "we have defeated ISIS in Syria," several military and security experts said he was overstating the case, and warned against a hasty withdrawal. 'Thinking long and hard' Graham said Trump was "thinking long and hard about Syria and how to withdraw the forces" after ensuring that ISIS is destroyed, that US-allied Kurdish forces are protected and that "Iran doesn't become the big winner of our leaving." Graham, who as a member of the Armed Services committee has frequently visited US troops in combat zones, was once a frequent critic of Trump but, reversing course, now frequently defends him and seems to have gained privileged access to the president's ear. The senator's remarks after the White House meeting were considerably modulated from his tone earlier in the day, when he told ABC television's "This Week" that "if we leave (Syria) now, the Kurds will get slaughtered." "I'm going to ask the president to do something that President Obama would never do: reconsider," he said. Graham said he knew Trump was "frustrated" by his limited options in Syria. "The president is reconsidering how we would do this," Graham said. "I get it. We're not the policemen of the world here." He added: "I'm going to ask him to sit down with his generals and reconsider how to do this. Slow it down. Make sure we get it right." A Trump announcement? Kellyanne Conway, a close Trump advisor, seemed to hint that the president might be rethinking his withdrawal plans. "In Iraq he had a closed-door meeting and he said watch what happens... Watch what happens because he's got plans and I won't get ahead of his announcement, but he did want me to convey that," she said on "Fox News Sunday." Trump's abrupt decision on Syria stunned regional players, US politicians of both parties and military leaders, who expressed surprise that such a major decision would be announced after apparently so little advance consultation, against the advice of his national security advisors -- and on Twitter. US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis resigned following the announcement, which came on the same day that US officials said Trump was also planning a significant drawdown in Afghanistan, with some reports suggesting as many as half of the 14,000 troops could leave. Graham warned at the time that a reduction now of US forces in war-torn Afghanistan risked "paving the way toward a second 9/11." Another prominent critic of the move was retired US army general Stanley McChrystal, the former commander of US and international forces in Afghanistan. On Sunday, he told ABC that the dual drawdowns could seriously weaken US influence in the region. "We have a tumultuous regime or region (in Syria) that now has a Russian presence which had been out for about 30 years," he said. "Iran has increased influence across the region now. If you pull American influence out, you're likely to have greater instability." Similarly, he said, Trump's planned drawdown in Afghanistan could seriously undercut American leverage there. "Just when we were starting to sit down with the Taliban, just as we were starting to begin negotiations, he basically traded away the biggest leverage point we have," McChrystal added.

Trump vows to 'destroy' IS before leaving Syria, says top Republican

Floods hit Syrian Refugee Camps

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