Washington, DC, USA

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

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Netanyahu in a statement said he had spoken over the past two days with the US president and secretary of state about their intention to withdraw US forces from Syria.

"They made clear they have other ways to have influence in the area," Netanyahu said.

"We will study the timeline, how it will be done and of course the implications for us. In any case, we will make sure to maintain Israel's security and protect ourselves from this arena," he said.

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Republican Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that he was 'stunned' by President Donald Trump's 'precipitous' decision to withdraw US troops from Syria.

Hours after Trump tweeted that "We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there," Corker told reporters that the decision had not been communicated in advance.

A decision to pull out completely, confirmed by US officials, coincides with the roughly 2,000 US troops finishing up a campaign to retake territory once held by Islamic State militants.

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But it could leave the United States with few options to prevent a resurgence of Islamic State. It could also undercut US leverage in the region and undermine diplomatic efforts to end the Syrian civil war, which is now in its eighth year.

The withdrawal drew swift criticism from some of Trump's fellow Republicans, who said that leaving strengthened the hand of Russia and Iran, which both support Syrian President Bashar al Assad.

It may also leave exposed an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, which has been among the most effective against Islamic State but is under threat as Turkey weighs a new offensive in Syria.

US commanders on the ground, who have developed strong ties to SDF leaders, had voiced concerns about what a fast withdrawal would mean for the US-backed forces and were surprised by the decision, US officials told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.