The report comes days after President Donald Trump said he wants US forces out of the war-torn country.

"Our position in Syria has been to defeat IS," Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White told reporters.

According to AFP she added: "that mission has not changed.”

Many of his top aides worry a premature pull-out would have far-reaching negative consequences.

The White House on Wednesday vowed the US mission in Syria would come to a "rapid end," but failed to put a timetable on an eventual withdrawal.

Another Pentagon spokesman, Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie, also said the military policy remains the same.

"We've always thought that as we reach finality against IS in Syria we are going to adjust the level of our presence there, so in that sense nothing actually has changed," he said.

McKenzie declined to comment when asked why the Kurds would want to keep fighting IS for America when Trump has signaled his willingness to leave Syria.

Reporter’s code: 50101