SHADDADEH, Syria - Hundreds of American troops based in Syria have received Christmas gifts thanks to Operation Holiday Express, launched by U.S.-led coalition forces from across the border in neighbouring Iraq. But coalition forces still donned jolly red caps as they unloaded boxes of gifts at five locations in eastern Syria, as seen by The Associated Press on Monday. Caggins said the aim of Operation Holiday Express was to bring a little Christmas cheer to those on active duty. The U.S. at one point had some 2,000 service members in Syria, mostly taking part in battles against the Islamic State group. While President Donald Trump has said he will withdraw the bulk of the roughly 1,000 American troops from Syria, he’s made it clear he’ll leave some military forces in the country to help secure the oil fields across eastern Syria from any IS resurgence.

Source: thestar December 24, 2019 13:07 UTC