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

Syrian troops deployed in support of Kurdish forces around a strategic northern city on Friday, in a shift of alliances hastened by last week's announcement of a US military withdrawal.

Nearly eight years into Syria's deadly conflict, the move marked another key step in President Bashar al-Assad's Russian-backed drive to reassert control over the country.

The Syrian army announced that it had raised the flag in Manbij, a strategic city close to the Turkish border where Kurdish forces have been deployed since 2016 and where US-led coalition forces are also stationed.

A military spokesman said in a televised announcement that the army would be bent on "crushing terrorism and defeating all invaders and occupiers".

More than 300 government forces deployed in the Manbij area, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Nura al-Hamed, deputy head of the Manbij local authority, told AFP that the regime deployment was the result of Russian-sponsored negotiations.

"The regime forces will not enter the city of Manbij itself but will deploy on the demarcation line" with Turkish-backed Syrian groups, she said.

Hamed said that US and French coalition forces stationed there remained at their positions and continued to conduct patrols.

The US military said the Syrian army had not entered the city itself.

"Despite incorrect information about changes to the military forces in Manbij city, (the US-led coalition) has seen no indication of these claims being true," US Central Command spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Earl Brown said.

Kurdish shift

The Syrian army's deployment creates a regime buffer arching across northern Syria that fully separates the Turkish army and its proxies from the Kurds.

Turkey reacted to the deployment by warning "all sides to stay away from provocative actions" while a large convoy of its Syrian auxiliaries were seen moving closer to the western edge of Manbij later on Friday.

US President Donald Trump's shock withdrawal announcement last week left the Kurds in the cold.

The People's Protection Units (YPG) have been the backbone of an alliance that has spearheaded the US-backed fight against the Islamic State group in Syria.

They are currently battling the last remnants of the jihadists' once sprawling "caliphate" in the country's far east, near the border with Iraq.

A US withdrawal will leave them exposed to an assault by Turkey, which has thousands of proxy fighters in northern Syria and wants to crush Kurdish forces it considers terrorists.

The Kurds welcomed the regime advance, a pragmatic shift in alliances that will dash their aspirations for autonomy but could help them cut their losses.

"We invite the Syrian government forces... to assert control over the areas our forces have withdrawn from, particularly in Manbij, and to protect these areas against a Turkish invasion," the YPG said in a statement.

After Manbij, the focus is likely to move to Raqa, a mostly Arab city that the Kurds liberated from IS last year and that the regime has vowed to retake.

Turkey said Syrian Kurds "don't have the right" to seek regime help but Russia, the main foreign player in Syria since it intervened to rescue Assad in 2015, hailed the latest development.

"Of course, this will help in stabilising the situation. The enlargement of the zone under the control of government forces... is without doubt a positive trend," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Peskov said the situation would be discussed on Saturday during a visit to Moscow by the Turkish foreign and defence ministers, to "clarify" the situation and "synchronise actions" between the two countries.

This year the regime retook large swathes of territory with the help of Russian firepower, after three years ago controlling less than a third of the country.

Diplomatic drive

The government ousted rebels from their bastions in and around the capital Damascus and flushed out other pockets to reopen key transport and trade routes.

With internal opposition in tatters and UN-backed political negotiations stillborn, Assad is now trying to shed his pariah status and looking for funds to rebuild the country.

The US pullout from Syria risks opening a highway for other regional players such as Turkey and Iran, a prospect that some of Assad's erstwhile foes are keen to counter.

On Thursday, the United Arab Emirates -- a Turkish rival in the region -- reopened its embassy in Damascus, nearly seven years after severing ties and recognising a now defunct opposition umbrella.

The move was the latest in a series of developments building up to the return of Assad's Syria into the Arab fold.

Bahrain also announced it would reopen its mission in Damascus and observers expect regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia to confirm that trend in the coming weeks.

The Arab League has admitted that the reintegration of Syria, which was suspended from the regional body when it intensified its repression of anti-government protests seven years ago, is on the table.

Syrian troops deployed in support of Kurdish forces around a strategic northern city on Friday, in a shift of alliances hastened by last week's announcement of a US military withdrawal.

Syrian troops deployed in support of Kurdish forces around a strategic northern city on Friday, in a shift of alliances hastened by last week's announcement of a US military withdrawal. Nearly eight years into Syria's deadly conflict, the move marked another key step in President Bashar al-Assad's Russian-backed drive to reassert control over the country. The Syrian army announced that it had raised the flag in Manbij, a strategic city close to the Turkish border where Kurdish forces have been deployed since 2016 and where US-led coalition forces are also stationed. A military spokesman said in a televised announcement that the army would be bent on "crushing terrorism and defeating all invaders and occupiers". More than 300 government forces deployed in the Manbij area, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Nura al-Hamed, deputy head of the Manbij local authority, told AFP that the regime deployment was the result of Russian-sponsored negotiations. "The regime forces will not enter the city of Manbij itself but will deploy on the demarcation line" with Turkish-backed Syrian groups, she said. Hamed said that US and French coalition forces stationed there remained at their positions and continued to conduct patrols. The US military said the Syrian army had not entered the city itself. "Despite incorrect information about changes to the military forces in Manbij city, (the US-led coalition) has seen no indication of these claims being true," US Central Command spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Earl Brown said. Kurdish shift The Syrian army's deployment creates a regime buffer arching across northern Syria that fully separates the Turkish army and its proxies from the Kurds. Turkey reacted to the deployment by warning "all sides to stay away from provocative actions" while a large convoy of its Syrian auxiliaries were seen moving closer to the western edge of Manbij later on Friday. US President Donald Trump's shock withdrawal announcement last week left the Kurds in the cold. The People's Protection Units (YPG) have been the backbone of an alliance that has spearheaded the US-backed fight against the Islamic State group in Syria. They are currently battling the last remnants of the jihadists' once sprawling "caliphate" in the country's far east, near the border with Iraq. A US withdrawal will leave them exposed to an assault by Turkey, which has thousands of proxy fighters in northern Syria and wants to crush Kurdish forces it considers terrorists. The Kurds welcomed the regime advance, a pragmatic shift in alliances that will dash their aspirations for autonomy but could help them cut their losses. "We invite the Syrian government forces... to assert control over the areas our forces have withdrawn from, particularly in Manbij, and to protect these areas against a Turkish invasion," the YPG said in a statement. After Manbij, the focus is likely to move to Raqa, a mostly Arab city that the Kurds liberated from IS last year and that the regime has vowed to retake. Turkey said Syrian Kurds "don't have the right" to seek regime help but Russia, the main foreign player in Syria since it intervened to rescue Assad in 2015, hailed the latest development. "Of course, this will help in stabilising the situation. The enlargement of the zone under the control of government forces... is without doubt a positive trend," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Peskov said the situation would be discussed on Saturday during a visit to Moscow by the Turkish foreign and defence ministers, to "clarify" the situation and "synchronise actions" between the two countries. This year the regime retook large swathes of territory with the help of Russian firepower, after three years ago controlling less than a third of the country. Diplomatic drive The government ousted rebels from their bastions in and around the capital Damascus and flushed out other pockets to reopen key transport and trade routes. With internal opposition in tatters and UN-backed political negotiations stillborn, Assad is now trying to shed his pariah status and looking for funds to rebuild the country. The US pullout from Syria risks opening a highway for other regional players such as Turkey and Iran, a prospect that some of Assad's erstwhile foes are keen to counter. On Thursday, the United Arab Emirates -- a Turkish rival in the region -- reopened its embassy in Damascus, nearly seven years after severing ties and recognising a now defunct opposition umbrella. The move was the latest in a series of developments building up to the return of Assad's Syria into the Arab fold. Bahrain also announced it would reopen its mission in Damascus and observers expect regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia to confirm that trend in the coming weeks. The Arab League has admitted that the reintegration of Syria, which was suspended from the regional body when it intensified its repression of anti-government protests seven years ago, is on the table.

Syrian army claims entering key city Manbij in new alliance with Kurds

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/syrian-army-enters-manbij-in-new-alliance-with-kurds-187070">US commanders</a> planning for the withdrawal of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/syrian-army-claims-entering-key-city-manbij-in-new-alliance-with-kurds-187101">US troops from Syria </a>are recommending that Kurdish fighters battling Islamic State be allowed to keep US-supplied weapons, four US officials said, a move that would likely anger NATO ally Turkey.

Three of the officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the recommendations were part of discussions on a draft plan by<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/syrian-army-not-in-manbij-city-us-military-187071"> the US military</a>. It is unclear what the Pentagon will ultimately recommend to the White House.

Discussions are still at an early stage inside the Pentagon and no decision has yet been made, the officials said. The plan will then be presented to the White House in the coming days with US President Donald Trump making the final decision.

The Pentagon said it would be "inappropriate" and premature to comment on what will happen with the weapons.&nbsp;

"Planning is ongoing, and focused on executing a deliberate and controlled withdrawal of forces while taking all measures possible to ensure our troops'&nbsp;safety," said Commander Sean Robertson, a Pentagon spokesman.

The White House did not comment.&nbsp;

Trump last week abruptly ordered a complete withdrawal of US troops from Syria, drawing widespread criticism and prompting Defense Secretary Jim Mattis'&nbsp;resignation.

The US officials said Trump's announcement has upset US commanders, who view his decision as a betrayal of the Kurdish YPG militia, which has led the fight to eradicate Islamic State from northeastern Syria.

Ankara views the YPG as an extension of a Kurdish insurgency inside Turkey. Turkey has threatened to launch an offensive against the YPG, raising fears of a surge in violence that could harm hundreds of thousands of civilians.&nbsp;

The United States told the YPG that they would be armed by Washington until the fight against Islamic State was completed, one of the US officials said.

"The fight isn't over. We can't simply start asking for the weapons back," said the official.

The proposal to leave US-supplied weapons with the YPG, which could include anti-tank missiles, armoured vehicles and mortars, would reassure Kurdish allies that they were not being abandoned.

But Turkey wants the United States to take the weapons back, so the commanders'&nbsp;recommendation, if confirmed, could complicate Trump's plan to allow Turkey to finish off the fight against Islamic State inside Syria.

The Pentagon keeps records of the weapons it has supplied to the YPG and their chain of custody. But, the US officials said, it would be nearly impossible to locate all of the equipment.

"How are we going to get them back and who is going to take them back?" one of the officials asked.

The debate over whether to leave weapons with the YPG coincides with Trump's national security adviser John Bolton's visit to Turkey and Israel next week for talks on Syria.

In May 2017, the United States started distributing arms and equipment to the YPG for an offensive against Raqqa, the de facto capital of the self-declared caliphate that Islamic State overran in Iraq and Syria in 2014.

The United States told Turkey that it would take back the weapons after the defeat of Islamic State, which has lost all but a few slivers of territory in northeastern Syria.

"The idea that we'd be able to recover them is asinine. So we leave them where they are," said a US&nbsp;official.

A person familiar with the discussions of the US withdrawal plan said the White House and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan would oppose the proposal to allow the YPG to keep its US-supplied weapons.

The recommendation "is a rejection of Trump's policy to withdraw from Syria," said the person, who asked not to be further identified.

Turkey has said weapons supplied to the YPG have in the past ended up in&nbsp;the hands of its Kurdish separatists, and described any weapon given to the insurgents as a threat to Turkey's security.

A phone call between Trump and Erdogan led to the decision to withdraw all US forces from Syria.&nbsp;

In the call two weeks ago, Trump had been expected to deliver a standard warning to the Turkish president over his plan to launch a cross-border attack targeting US-backed Kurdish forces in northeast Syria, US officials said.

Instead, in the course of the conversation, Trump reshaped US policy in the Middle East, abandoning a quarter of Syrian territory and handing Turkey the job of finishing off Islamic State in Syria.

US commanders planning for the withdrawal of US troops from Syria are recommending that Kurdish fighters battling Islamic State be allowed to keep US-supplied weapons, four US officials said, a move that would likely anger NATO ally Turkey.

US commanders planning for the withdrawal of US troops from Syria are recommending that Kurdish fighters battling Islamic State be allowed to keep US-supplied weapons, four US officials said, a move that would likely anger NATO ally Turkey. Three of the officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the recommendations were part of discussions on a draft plan by the US military. It is unclear what the Pentagon will ultimately recommend to the White House. Discussions are still at an early stage inside the Pentagon and no decision has yet been made, the officials said. The plan will then be presented to the White House in the coming days with US President Donald Trump making the final decision. The Pentagon said it would be "inappropriate" and premature to comment on what will happen with the weapons. "Planning is ongoing, and focused on executing a deliberate and controlled withdrawal of forces while taking all measures possible to ensure our troops' safety," said Commander Sean Robertson, a Pentagon spokesman. The White House did not comment. Trump last week abruptly ordered a complete withdrawal of US troops from Syria, drawing widespread criticism and prompting Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' resignation. The US officials said Trump's announcement has upset US commanders, who view his decision as a betrayal of the Kurdish YPG militia, which has led the fight to eradicate Islamic State from northeastern Syria. Ankara views the YPG as an extension of a Kurdish insurgency inside Turkey. Turkey has threatened to launch an offensive against the YPG, raising fears of a surge in violence that could harm hundreds of thousands of civilians. The United States told the YPG that they would be armed by Washington until the fight against Islamic State was completed, one of the US officials said. "The fight isn't over. We can't simply start asking for the weapons back," said the official. The proposal to leave US-supplied weapons with the YPG, which could include anti-tank missiles, armoured vehicles and mortars, would reassure Kurdish allies that they were not being abandoned. But Turkey wants the United States to take the weapons back, so the commanders' recommendation, if confirmed, could complicate Trump's plan to allow Turkey to finish off the fight against Islamic State inside Syria. The Pentagon keeps records of the weapons it has supplied to the YPG and their chain of custody. But, the US officials said, it would be nearly impossible to locate all of the equipment. "How are we going to get them back and who is going to take them back?" one of the officials asked. The debate over whether to leave weapons with the YPG coincides with Trump's national security adviser John Bolton's visit to Turkey and Israel next week for talks on Syria. In May 2017, the United States started distributing arms and equipment to the YPG for an offensive against Raqqa, the de facto capital of the self-declared caliphate that Islamic State overran in Iraq and Syria in 2014. The United States told Turkey that it would take back the weapons after the defeat of Islamic State, which has lost all but a few slivers of territory in northeastern Syria. "The idea that we'd be able to recover them is asinine. So we leave them where they are," said a US official. A person familiar with the discussions of the US withdrawal plan said the White House and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan would oppose the proposal to allow the YPG to keep its US-supplied weapons. The recommendation "is a rejection of Trump's policy to withdraw from Syria," said the person, who asked not to be further identified. Turkey has said weapons supplied to the YPG have in the past ended up in the hands of its Kurdish separatists, and described any weapon given to the insurgents as a threat to Turkey's security. A phone call between Trump and Erdogan led to the decision to withdraw all US forces from Syria. In the call two weeks ago, Trump had been expected to deliver a standard warning to the Turkish president over his plan to launch a cross-border attack targeting US-backed Kurdish forces in northeast Syria, US officials said. Instead, in the course of the conversation, Trump reshaped US policy in the Middle East, abandoning a quarter of Syrian territory and handing Turkey the job of finishing off Islamic State in Syria.

US commanders recommend Kurdish fighters in Syria to go on keeping weapons

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will meet next week in Brazil with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Washington prepares to withdraw troops from Syria, the State Department said Thursday.

Pompeo and Netanyahu will meet in Brasilia where both will be attending the New Year's Day inauguration of president-elect Jair Bolsonaro, a right-wing firebrand who has vowed to move Brazil closer to Israel and US President Donald Trump.

Netanyahu has met frequently with Pompeo and enjoys a warm relationship with Trump, happy about his withdrawal from a denuclearization deal with Iran and his landmark shift of the US embassy to Jerusalem.

But Netanyahu has for the first time found himself at odds with Trump after the US leader's sudden announcement last week that he will bring home all 2,000 American troops from war-ravaged Syria, where Israel saw Washington's presence as a bulwark against Iran and counterweight to the influence of Russia.

Israel has been measured in its public response, saying it respects Trump's decision, which led to the resignation of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.

Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria that it says are targeting Iranian forces and their Hezbollah allies.

Trump has said that US troops were solely focused on fighting the Islamic State jihadist group, which he has declared to be "largely defeated."

Pompeo will also meet in Brazil with Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra and afterward fly to Cartagena to hold talks with Colombian President Ivan Duque.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will meet next week in Brazil with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Washington prepares to withdraw troops from Syria, the State Department said Thursday.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will meet next week in Brazil with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Washington prepares to withdraw troops from Syria, the State Department said Thursday. Pompeo and Netanyahu will meet in Brasilia where both will be attending the New Year's Day inauguration of president-elect Jair Bolsonaro, a right-wing firebrand who has vowed to move Brazil closer to Israel and US President Donald Trump. Netanyahu has met frequently with Pompeo and enjoys a warm relationship with Trump, happy about his withdrawal from a denuclearization deal with Iran and his landmark shift of the US embassy to Jerusalem. But Netanyahu has for the first time found himself at odds with Trump after the US leader's sudden announcement last week that he will bring home all 2,000 American troops from war-ravaged Syria, where Israel saw Washington's presence as a bulwark against Iran and counterweight to the influence of Russia. Israel has been measured in its public response, saying it respects Trump's decision, which led to the resignation of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria that it says are targeting Iranian forces and their Hezbollah allies. Trump has said that US troops were solely focused on fighting the Islamic State jihadist group, which he has declared to be "largely defeated." Pompeo will also meet in Brazil with Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra and afterward fly to Cartagena to hold talks with Colombian President Ivan Duque.

Pompeo to meet Netanyahu in Brazil after Syria decision

The United Arab Emirates reopened its embassy in Damascus Thursday, the latest sign of efforts to bring the Syrian government back into the Arab fold.

The UAE broke ties with Syria in February 2012, as the repression of nationwide protests demanding regime change was escalating into a devastating war.

Nearly seven years later, the Emirati flag was raised again during a ceremony attended by diplomats and journalists.

An acting charge d'affaires has already started working, an Emirati statement said, stressing that the UAE was "keen to put relations back on their normal track".

It said that the resumption of ties aimed to "support the sovereignty and independence of Syria" and face "the dangers of regional interferences".

Rumours of the Emirati embassy reopening had circulated in recent days as renovation work was spotted getting under way at the building.

A visit to Damascus by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir earlier this month had been interpreted by some observers as a sign of regional efforts to end Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's diplomatic isolation.

Pariah no more?

Syria was suspended from the Arab League in November 2011, as the death toll was escalating and several regional powers bet on Assad's demise.

The conflict has now killed more than 360,000 people.

Assad's seat at the helm, which he inherited from his father in 2000, appeared to be hanging by a thread until Russia's 2015 military intervention turned things around.

Government forces and allied militia have since steadily regained significant ground. They now firmly control the Damascus region and several key trade routes in the country.

The past few days have seen a flurry of diplomatic activity that looks set to continue until the next summit of the Arab League, due in Tunis in March.

"Recent discussions on this issue have not yielded a consensus," Hossam Zaki, the League's deputy secretary general, told reporters in Cairo on Monday.

"This does not rule out a possible change of the Arab position in the future," he added.

Ali Mamluk, Syria's intelligence chief and a key figure in the Assad regime, travelled to Egypt last week on an official visit.

With military operations winding down in several parts of the country and the capital fully secure, Damascus is also working on breaking its physical isolation.

Saudi money

Trade with Jordan resumed in recent weeks after the reopening of a border crossing and Thursday saw the first commercial flight to Tunisia in years.

A Cham Wings Airlines jet completed the first flight between the two countries since 2011.

"This trip is the reopening of tourism links between Syria and Tunisia," Moataz Tarbin, the head of the tourism firm that organised the flight, told AFP.

It is not yet clear if other Arab countries, several of which were accused by Assad of once supporting jihadists and rebels, will follow in the UAE's footsteps.

The UAE is one of six Gulf Cooperation Council nations that took a tough stance on Damascus in 2012 and eventually recognised an opposition umbrella group as the representative of Syria.&nbsp;

Warming up to Assad is seen by some regional powers as a way of luring Syria away from the exclusive regional influence of Iran.

"An Arab role in Syria has become even more necessary to face the regional expansionism of Iran and Turkey," UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said on Twitter.

Tehran has been a staunch supporter of Assad's government and has expanded its military footprint in Syria throughout the course of the conflict.

Last week's announcement by the White House that US troops would be pulled out also cleared the path for Turkey to muscle in on Kurdish areas in northeastern Syria.

US President Donald Trump claimed on Monday that Saudi Arabia, Iran's regional archfoe, had agreed to finance Syria's huge reconstruction needs.

"Saudi Arabia has now agreed to spend the necessary money needed to help rebuild Syria, instead of the United States," Trump said on social media.

The United Arab Emirates reopened its embassy in Damascus Thursday, the latest sign of efforts to bring the Syrian government back into the Arab fold. The UAE broke ties with Syria in February 2012, as the repression of nationwide protests demanding regime change was escalating into a devastating war.

The United Arab Emirates reopened its embassy in Damascus Thursday, the latest sign of efforts to bring the Syrian government back into the Arab fold. The UAE broke ties with Syria in February 2012, as the repression of nationwide protests demanding regime change was escalating into a devastating war. Nearly seven years later, the Emirati flag was raised again during a ceremony attended by diplomats and journalists. An acting charge d'affaires has already started working, an Emirati statement said, stressing that the UAE was "keen to put relations back on their normal track". It said that the resumption of ties aimed to "support the sovereignty and independence of Syria" and face "the dangers of regional interferences". Rumours of the Emirati embassy reopening had circulated in recent days as renovation work was spotted getting under way at the building. A visit to Damascus by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir earlier this month had been interpreted by some observers as a sign of regional efforts to end Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's diplomatic isolation. Pariah no more? Syria was suspended from the Arab League in November 2011, as the death toll was escalating and several regional powers bet on Assad's demise. The conflict has now killed more than 360,000 people. Assad's seat at the helm, which he inherited from his father in 2000, appeared to be hanging by a thread until Russia's 2015 military intervention turned things around. Government forces and allied militia have since steadily regained significant ground. They now firmly control the Damascus region and several key trade routes in the country. The past few days have seen a flurry of diplomatic activity that looks set to continue until the next summit of the Arab League, due in Tunis in March. "Recent discussions on this issue have not yielded a consensus," Hossam Zaki, the League's deputy secretary general, told reporters in Cairo on Monday. "This does not rule out a possible change of the Arab position in the future," he added. Ali Mamluk, Syria's intelligence chief and a key figure in the Assad regime, travelled to Egypt last week on an official visit. With military operations winding down in several parts of the country and the capital fully secure, Damascus is also working on breaking its physical isolation. Saudi money Trade with Jordan resumed in recent weeks after the reopening of a border crossing and Thursday saw the first commercial flight to Tunisia in years. A Cham Wings Airlines jet completed the first flight between the two countries since 2011. "This trip is the reopening of tourism links between Syria and Tunisia," Moataz Tarbin, the head of the tourism firm that organised the flight, told AFP. It is not yet clear if other Arab countries, several of which were accused by Assad of once supporting jihadists and rebels, will follow in the UAE's footsteps. The UAE is one of six Gulf Cooperation Council nations that took a tough stance on Damascus in 2012 and eventually recognised an opposition umbrella group as the representative of Syria. Warming up to Assad is seen by some regional powers as a way of luring Syria away from the exclusive regional influence of Iran. "An Arab role in Syria has become even more necessary to face the regional expansionism of Iran and Turkey," UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said on Twitter. Tehran has been a staunch supporter of Assad's government and has expanded its military footprint in Syria throughout the course of the conflict. Last week's announcement by the White House that US troops would be pulled out also cleared the path for Turkey to muscle in on Kurdish areas in northeastern Syria. US President Donald Trump claimed on Monday that Saudi Arabia, Iran's regional archfoe, had agreed to finance Syria's huge reconstruction needs. "Saudi Arabia has now agreed to spend the necessary money needed to help rebuild Syria, instead of the United States," Trump said on social media.

UAE reopens Damascus embassy after seven years

The year 2018 saw the retreat of US troops from Syria and the decline of the jihadist militant group ISIS from the country.

President Donald Trump announced the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/syria-troop-withdrawal-is-donald-trump-burying-the-post-war-liberal-world-order-186963">withdrawal of the US troops from Syria</a> on December 19 stating that America had "defeated ISIS" in the war-ravaged country.&nbsp;

The first US troops were deployed in Syria during the Obama administration in 2015 when the militant group was at its peak. The US had set up about 2,000 troops in the country to support local forces fighting the Islamic State.

The troops had never been involved in a direct fight with the 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 SDF working alongside the US troops have reclaimed most of the territories that were lost to the ISIS.

After seven years of deadly war between the US-led SDF force and other foreign forces, the Islamic State has now been pushed back to the border of the Syrian territories and has lost control over the majority of the area that they once controlled.

The civil&nbsp;war in Syria

Syria fell into a <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> in 2011 following the Arab Spring protest led by the civilians against the unfair 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. Syria was divided into several groups which received aid and support from different foreign groups.

The Bashar al-Assad regime backed by Russia, Iran and Turkey fought against the radical forces. While the US fought alongside the Kurds against them.&nbsp;

The Kurdish forces have been demanding a separate country for themselves. Though the US has never been in favour of the Bashar al-Assad government it did not make much effort to eliminate it from the country because the other alternative against the Assad regime was the Islamic State which the US knew would be even more dangerous.

The current situation

Over the years the civil war in Syria resulted in the killing of over millions of civilians. Syria became a battleground for not only the different internal groups but also global powers such as the US, Russia, Iran and Turkey.

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pictures-children-become-victims-of-chemical-attack-in-syria-220">civilians were falling victim to the atrocities</a> and armed killing by the Islamic State and also the chemical attack by the Bashar al-Assad led government and the proxy war of the global powers.

Though the Islamic State has lost almost all the territories in the seventh year of the <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.wionews.com/photos/syrias-aleppo-before-and-after-136&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjsnbKlvMLfAhUKsI8KHaviDoUQFggPMAQ&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw0bUJpfs613iAsu-71IENpQ">deadly war</a>, the militant group still remains&nbsp;a threat. The IS has shown an ability to stage sudden guerrilla attacks despite losing its so-called caliphate.

The government now holds more than half of the country, including its most populous areas, the main cities, coast, the border with Lebanon, most of the border with Jordan, central Syrian desert and the main gas fields.

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias now controls almost all the quarter of Syria east of the Euphrates, including the&nbsp;former&nbsp;IS capital of Raqqa and some of the country’s biggest oil fields.

(With input&nbsp;from agencies)

The year 2018 saw the retreat of US troops from Syria and the decline of the jihadist militant group ISIS from the country. President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of the US troops from Syria on December 19 stating that America had "defeated ISIS" in the war-ravaged country.

The year 2018 saw the retreat of US troops from Syria and the decline of the jihadist militant group ISIS from the country. President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of the US troops from Syria on December 19 stating that America had "defeated ISIS" in the war-ravaged country. The first US troops were deployed in Syria during the Obama administration in 2015 when the militant group was at its peak. The US had set up about 2,000 troops in the country to support local forces fighting the Islamic State. The troops had never been involved in a direct fight with the 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 SDF working alongside the US troops have reclaimed most of the territories that were lost to the ISIS. After seven years of deadly war between the US-led SDF force and other foreign forces, the Islamic State has now been pushed back to the border of the Syrian territories and has lost control over the majority of the area that they once controlled. The civil war in Syria Syria fell into a civil war in 2011 following the Arab Spring protest led by the civilians against the unfair 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. Syria was divided into several groups which received aid and support from different foreign groups. The Bashar al-Assad regime backed by Russia, Iran and Turkey fought against the radical forces. While the US fought alongside the Kurds against them. The Kurdish forces have been demanding a separate country for themselves. Though the US has never been in favour of the Bashar al-Assad government it did not make much effort to eliminate it from the country because the other alternative against the Assad regime was the Islamic State which the US knew would be even more dangerous. The current situation Over the years the civil war in Syria resulted in the killing of over millions of civilians. Syria became a battleground for not only the different internal groups but also global powers such as the US, Russia, Iran and Turkey. The civilians were falling victim to the atrocities and armed killing by the Islamic State and also the chemical attack by the Bashar al-Assad led government and the proxy war of the global powers. Though the Islamic State has lost almost all the territories in the seventh year of the deadly war, the militant group still remains a threat. The IS has shown an ability to stage sudden guerrilla attacks despite losing its so-called caliphate. The government now holds more than half of the country, including its most populous areas, the main cities, coast, the border with Lebanon, most of the border with Jordan, central Syrian desert and the main gas fields. The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias now controls almost all the quarter of Syria east of the Euphrates, including the former IS capital of Raqqa and some of the country’s biggest oil fields. (With input from agencies)

2018 marked another bloody year in Syria 

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