Department of Defense chief of staff Kevin Sweeney has become the third senior Pentagon official to resign from his post since President Trump announced his intentions to withdraw US troops from Syria. In a brief statement posted on Saturday evening, Sweeney said: 'I've decided the time is right to return to the private sector. It has been an honor to serve again alongside the men and women of the Department of Defense'. Mattis' resignation was declared less than 24 hours after Trump voiced his intentions to withdraw all US troops from Syria, under the belief the Islamic State had been defeated. General Mattis' departure was previously advanced by the President, as Trump allegedly became increasingly aggrieved over the extensive coverage of his resignation was garnering.

Source: Daily Mail January 06, 2019 17:03 UTC