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Syria conflict: US 'planning to withdraw troops' Syria conflict: US 'planning immediate withdrawal of troops'
(35 minutes later)
The US is preparing to withdraw all its troops from Syria, US media are quoting defence officials as saying.The US is preparing to withdraw all its troops from Syria, US media are quoting defence officials as saying.
One official told CNN the planning was for a "full" and "rapid" withdrawal. CBS said it was told the White House had ordered the Pentagon to "begin planning for an immediate withdrawal".
President Donald Trump tweeted that the Islamic State (IS) group - also known as ISIS - had been defeated in Syria and that was his "only reason for being there". President Donald Trump tweeted that the Islamic State (IS) group - also known as ISIS - had been defeated in Syria, his "only reason for being there".
Some 2,000 troops have helped rid much of north-eastern Syria of IS, but pockets of fighters remain.Some 2,000 troops have helped rid much of north-eastern Syria of IS, but pockets of fighters remain.
It had been thought US defence officials wanted to stay to ensure the militant group could not rebuild.It had been thought US defence officials wanted to stay to ensure the militant group could not rebuild.
Just a few days ago, Brett McGurk, Mr Trump's special presidential envoy for the global coalition to defeat IS, said:"Nobody is saying that [IS fighters] are going to disappear. Nobody is that naive. So we want to stay on the ground and make sure that stability can be maintained in these areas".Just a few days ago, Brett McGurk, Mr Trump's special presidential envoy for the global coalition to defeat IS, said:"Nobody is saying that [IS fighters] are going to disappear. Nobody is that naive. So we want to stay on the ground and make sure that stability can be maintained in these areas".
But President Trump promised in March this year that US troops would leave Syria "very soon".But President Trump promised in March this year that US troops would leave Syria "very soon".
The timing of a withdrawal is unclear. The Pentagon has refused to comment. The Pentagon has so far refused to comment.
US forces are currently supporting an alliance of Syrian Kurdish and Arab fighters (the Syrian Democratic Forces) that is closing in on the last pocket of territory in south-eastern Syria controlled by IS, around the town of Hajin in the Middle Euphrates River Valley. Turkish operation in Syria
Just last week Turkey warned it was planning to launch an operation against US-backed Kurdish militias in northern Syria "in the next few days".
The move, which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said would focus on territory to the east of the Euphrates river, risks confrontation with the US.
US forces are also in south-eastern Syria, supporting an alliance of Syrian Kurdish and Arab fighters (the Syrian Democratic Forces) that is closing in on the last pocket of territory controlled by IS there, around the town of Hajin in the Middle Euphrates River Valley.
Earlier on Wednesday, the US-led multinational coalition against IS said in a statement that the operation, which began on 1 May, was continuing "to gain ground and remove terrorists from the battlefield".Earlier on Wednesday, the US-led multinational coalition against IS said in a statement that the operation, which began on 1 May, was continuing "to gain ground and remove terrorists from the battlefield".