Top Trump aide says US to stay in Syria as long as Iran ‘menacing’ region


John Bolton now indicates administration no longer in hurry to leave Syria

US soldier providing security to patrol in Syria

Times of Israel staff write, “US President Donald Trump’s top security adviser said Sunday that US troops would remain in Syria as long as Iran continues to “menace” the region, seemingly reversing a promise by the White House to pull out sooner. Trump said in April that US troops would be leaving Syria right away, drawing consternation from Israeli officials, who saw the arena being ceded to Russia, an ally of Iran. On Sunday, though, Trump national security adviser John Bolton said troops would remain as long as Iran was causing trouble in the region. “I think the president has made it clear that we are there until the ISIS territorial caliphate is removed and as long as the Iranian menace continues throughout the Middle East,” he told ABC’s “This Week.”

“Bolton said the topic would be discussed by Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin when the two meet for their first official summit in Helsinki Monday. Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said Friday that Syria and the Iranian presence there will feature high on the agenda of the summit. Israel and Russia have long been rumored to be hammering out a deal on the status of Iran’s forces in Syria, as the civil war in the nation winds down and President Bashar Assad regains much of the territory he lost to rebel forces during seven years of fighting.”…

“US officials said a phone call between Trump and Netanyahu that day grew tense over the issue, a rare sign of discord between the two leaders who have almost always been in lockstep on Iran and other issues. According to Israeli officials speaking to al-Monitor, Trump told Netanyahu he was committed to Israel’s security but would not change his mind on withdrawing the troops…Bolton, seen as a war hawk, was not in the government when Trump made the initial announcement on pulling out of Syria.” (more…)

 

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