Trump stood by his decision to withdraw U.S. troops from northern Syria, which has enabled Turkey’s onslaught. He said that the roughly 1,000 troops leaving Syria will “redeploy and remain in the region” to prevent ISIS from regaining strength in a military vacuum. “Anyone who wants to assist Syria in protecting the Kurds is good with me, whether it is Russia, China, or Napoleon Bonaparte,” Trump tweeted. A small contingent of U.S. special forces troops will remain in Syria, farther south near the town of Tanf, the official added. Meanwhile, lawmakers on Capitol Hill prepared bipartisan legislation to sanction Turkey as well as a resolution to condemn the president’s decision to withdraw from Syria.

Source: Los Angeles Times October 14, 2019 22:40 UTC