Trump Says US Can Leave Small Force in Syria Amid Troops Pullout

Earlier, an anonymous US administration official told media that US would keep around 200 troops at the al-Tanf base and around 200 more soldiers in north-eastern Syria.

US President Donald Trump said that he is not reversing course on troops in Syria, adding, however, that US can leave a small force in the country along with others.

Trump announced the US troops pull-out from Syria in December 2018, promising to bring around 3,000 American soldiers home. The reason for the move, according to him, was the defeat of the Daesh* terrorist group in the Arab Republic.

READ MORE: Pompeo Vows to Coordinate US Troops Pullout From Syria With Iraq — Baghdad

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said recently that a small "peacekeeping group" of about 200 soldiers will stay in Syria "for [a] period of time" after the withdrawal. Later, an anonymous US administration official quoted by Reuters, said that the US will keep around 200 troops at the al- Tanf base and around 200 more soldiers in north-eastern Syria, which would be a part of a larger contingent, including the US' European allies numbering around 800-1,500 soldiers.

*Daesh (also known as ISIS/ISIL/IS) is a terrorist group banned in US, Russia and many other countries