Mattis said the Pentagon is "changing the composition of our forces" in Syria to reflect the collapse of the Islamic State group there and a renewed emphasis on finding a diplomatic path to peace. Speaking to reporters on his plane at the start of a five-day trip to the Middle East, Mattis said the shift in American forces will support the diplomatic process. As part of the changing U.S. military role, an artillery unit of about 400 Marines is leaving Syria this week, taking their howitzers with them. "The YPG is armed and as the coalition stops operations, then obviously you don't need that, you need security forces, you need police forces," said Mattis. The White House confirmed the move in a cryptic statement about the phone call that said Trump had informed the Turk of "pending adjustments to the military support provided to our partners on the ground in Syria."

Source: Economic Times December 01, 2017 23:48 UTC