- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

France Reveals Terms of Its Withdrawal From Syria

© AP Photo / French ArmyThis photo released on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015 by the French Army Communications Audiovisual office (ECPAD) shows French army Rafale fighter jets flying towards Syria as part of France's Operation Chammal launched in September 2015 in support of the US-led coalition against Islamic State group
This photo released on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015 by the French Army Communications Audiovisual office (ECPAD) shows French army Rafale fighter jets flying towards Syria as part of France's Operation Chammal launched in September 2015 in support of the US-led coalition against Islamic State group - Sputnik International
Subscribe
The statement comes a few weeks after the White House announced that the US had begun removing its forces from Syria, but stressed that it did not mean the end of the US-led international coalition's fight against Daesh* terrorists in the Arab country.

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has pledged to withdraw French troops from Syria as soon as "a political solution" is clinched.

"There is our [military] presence in Iraq, [and] we have a scanty presence in Syria", he told France's C-News television.

Le Drian argued that it is Russia which is responsible for the political resolution of the Syrian conflict.

READ MORE: France Reportedly Promised Kurdish SDF Support Amid US Withdrawal from Syria

According to him, Russia "bears political responsibility so that Syria has a political, not a military solution [of the conflict] to avoid the use of chemical weapons", he said.

Le Drian's remarks came after France's European Affairs Minister Nathalie Loiseau said in an interview with C-News on 20 December that France will "for now" maintain its participation in the coalition fighting Daesh forces in Syria.

In separate development, advisers to French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly met with Kurdish militants representing the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and assured them of future support from Paris.

READ MORE: 'The Die is Cast': Regional Powers Make Plans for After US Withdrawal from Syria

Members of 5th Special Forces Group (A) conducting 50. Cal Weapons training during counter ISIS operations at Al Tanf Garrison in southern Syria. - Sputnik International
US Troops Pullout May Shed Light on Coalition's War Crimes in Syria - Source
On 23 December, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said that the US began withdrawing troops from Syria, but that it did not mean the end of the US-led international coalition's fight against Daesh. 

Earlier that month, Washington announced that it will be withdrawing its troops from Syria within the next 60 to 100 days. US President Donald Trump justified the move by stating that the American forces had achieved their goal of defeating Daesh in the Arab state and can now return home.


*Daesh (ISIL/ISIS/Islamic State), a terrorist group banned in Russia and a spate of other countries

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала