US troops start pullout from Syriahome/News/World/US troops start pullout from SyriaBEIRUT: US-backed Kurdish-led forces said American troops began pulling back on Monday from positions along the border in northeast Syria ahead of an expected Turkish invasion that the Syrian Kurds say will overturn five years of achievements in the battle against the Islamic State group. The Syrian Kurdish fighters also accused Washington of failing to abide by its commitments to its key allies in the fight against IS. There was no immediate confirmation from the White House of US troops clearing positions in areas in northern Syria. He views the Syria Kurdish forces as a threat to his country as Ankara has struggled with a Kurdish insurgency within Turkey. IS sleeper cells are already plotting to break free some 12,000 militants detained by Syrian Kurdish fighters in northeastern Syria in a “threat to local and international security.”AP

Source: Manila Times October 07, 2019 17:12 UTC