The Washington Post on Tuesday, March 5, released a letter sent to Trump by twelve senators on February 22, asking the president to keep a contingent of US troops in Syria.
The senators said in the letter that the rise of Islamic State (IS) had left thousands of Iraqis and Syrians dead and millions more displaced.
The senators added that dozens of attacks on the West were plotted from IS-held territory.
“It is a tremendous accomplishment to defeat the caliphate, and we join you in deep appreciation for the efforts of our military and our allies. Our goal now must be to ensure ISIS is not able to regenerate and pose a threat to American security here at home or abroad.”
The senators said that they “support a small American stabilizing force in Syria. We agree that a stabilizing force, which includes a small contingent of American troops and ground forces from our European allies, is essential to ensure stability and prevent the return of ISIS. It also serves to help set the table for a negotiated settlement to the Syrian war in Geneva.”
“Like you, we seek to ensure that all of the grains made in Syria are not lost, that IS never returns, that Iran is not emboldened, and that we consolidate our gains and ensure the best outcome in Geneva for American interests. Those are all important objectives,” the letter said.
The senators also said that an international presence in Syria would help prevent conflicts between Turkey and the SDF, a US-backed force fighting ISIS in northern Syria.
“This is very possible with a smart post-caliphate strategy that involves a small American military effort combined with enabling important contributions from our European allies. We support such an effort,” the letter read.
Trump wrote in his own hand on the letter released by the Washington Post that, “I agree 100%. All is being done”.
A senior administration official said on February 22 that the United States would leave a total of about 400 US troops split between two different regions of Syria even as it withdraws most of the 2,000 troops currently in the country.
Trump had ordered the withdrawal in December after he said they had defeated IS militants in Syria.
But he was persuaded by advisers on February 21 that about 200 US troops would join what is expected to be a total commitment of about 800-1,500 troops from European allies to set up and observe a safe zone being negotiated for northeastern Syria, the official said.
The combat-ready US and European forces will help keep the peace between Kurdish forces, who supported the fight against Islamic State, and Turkey, the official added.
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