Donald Trump declares victory over ISIS in Syria as US withdraws all troops

Donald Trump: 'We have defeated ISIS in Syria'
AFP/Getty Images
James Morris19 December 2018

Donald Trump has declared victory against ISIS in Syria.

The United States president tweeted on Wednesday: "We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump Presidency."

It comes as the US considers a complete withdrawal of its forces from Syria, as it winds up its campaign to retake all the territory once held by Islamic State.

Mr Trump has previously expressed his wish for the remaining 2,000 troops to come home when possible, and his latest tweet suggested he saw no further grounds for remaining.

A convoy of US army troops and Kurdish militia on patrol in Syria last year
EPA

One official, speaking under the condition of anonymity, told Reuters that partners and allies had already been consulted on a withdrawal.

The Pentagon declined to comment, saying only that it continued to work with partners in the region.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, often a Trump ally, said a withdrawal would have "devastating consequences" for the US in the region - and throughout the world.

He said in a statement: "An American withdrawal at this time would be a big win for ISIS, Iran, Bashar al Assad of Syria and Russia.”

A convoy of US army troops and Kurdish militia on patrol in Syria last year
EPA

Many of the remaining troops in Syria are special operations forces working closely with an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The partnership with the SDF outraged NATO ally Turkey, which views the Kurdish YPG forces in the alliance as an extension of a militant group fighting inside Turkey.

A complete withdrawal of US troops from Syria would still leave a sizeable US military presence in the region, with about 5,200 troops across the border in Iraq.

Additional reporting by Reuters.

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