US Still Committed to Fight Daesh in Syria, Iraq Amid Russia’s Withdrawal

Washington is aware of reports that Russia is withdrawing forces from Syria, according to a spokesperson for Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States remains committed to its anti-Islamic State (IS, or Daesh) efforts both in Syria and Iraq amid Russia's pullout of its air group from Syria, a spokesperson for Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve told Sputnik on Tuesday.

“We are aware of reports that Russia is withdrawing forces from Syria,” the spokesperson said. “We remain committed to our counter-ISIL efforts that continue in Iraq and Syria.”

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the withdrawal of the main part of the country’s forces from Syria as they had fulfilled the task assigned to them.

Putin said the remaining groupings in Hmeymim base in Syria's Latakia province and the naval base in the port of Tartus would play a key role in monitoring the cessation of hostilities between Syrian government and rebel forces.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces fighting numerous opposition factions and radical Islamists. Russia had been conducting an aerial campaign against terrorists in Syria since September 30 at the request of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

On February 22, Russia and the United States reached an agreement on a ceasefire in Syria. The ceasefire took effect on February 27. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that Moscow and Washington are controlling the implementation of the intra-Syrian truce in accordance with the agreement.