HASAKEH (SYRIA) - The US-led coalition in Syria has begun withdrawing its troops, a spokesman said Friday, less than a month after US President Donald Trump made his shock announcement. "CJTF-OIR has begun the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria," spokesman Colonel Sean Ryan told AFP in a statement, referring to the US-led anti-jihadist force. "This is the first such pullout of American forces since the US president's announcement" of a military withdrawal from Syria last month, he said. The US-led coalition has several other bases across northeastern Syria, as well as in neighbouring Iraq, where Trump has said his forces would remain. Since his surprise announcement last month, Trump has stressed any withdrawal would be coordinated, gradual and "prudent".

Source: Bangkok Post January 11, 2019 10:41 UTC