Esper said, "Those who remain will continue to execute counter-terrorism operations while staying in close contact with the Syrians Democratic forces who have fought alongside us. Additionally, the United States will retain control of oil fields in northeast Syria."
Defense Secretary Mark Esper says the military’s oil field mission also will ensure income for Syrian Kurds who are counted on by Washington to continue guarding Islamic State prisoners and helping American forces combat remnants of the group — even as President Donald Trump continues to insist all U.S. troops will come home.
A video has shown the site where the elusive Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed in a nighttime raid on Sunday. The 18-second video was posted by Bloomberg a day after Islamic State founded al-Baghdadi was killed in the US commando raid.
Following a pact struck between Ankara and Moscow this week, Turkish forces suspended a military campaign against the Kurds, whom Ankara regards as a terrorist threat, on Wednesday, giving Kurdish fighters 150 hours to leave a 20-mile-deep belt that Turkey calls a safe zone, reports Efe news.
Despite Trump's consistent call for bringing back US troops from Syria, Trump announced in his Wednesday remarks that Washington would still keep a limited military presence in parts of Syria to protect the oil fields.
The ceasefire, which ends at 10 p.m. on Friday, was agreed on October 17 between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US Vice President Mike Pence, reports Efe news. Turkish officials, who consider the Kurdish-led People's Protection Units (YPG) and Democratic Union Party (PYD) as terrorists, said fighting would resume at 10:01 p.m. if one single Kurdish fighter was left in the region.
Since the ceasefire was penned between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday night, the city of Ras al-Ain has been under attack by Turkish forces and Syrian rebels backed by Ankara.
The airstrikes came after a cease-fire agreement was announced by the US on Thursday.
The last week decision paved the way for Turkey to launch a cross-border military offensive that aims to push the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) from the region. Turkey considers the biggest militia in the SDF a terrorist organisation.
Protesting Turkey''s military offensive in northeast Syria, US President Donald Trump has announced sanctions against Turkish officials, raising of steel tariffs and ending negotiations on a USD 100 billion trade deal. Trump has signed an executive order that empowers his administration to slap sanctions on Turkey.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Sunday that President Donald Trump had directed U.S. troops in northern Syria to begin pulling out “as safely and quickly as possible.” He did not say Trump ordered troops to leave Syria, but that seemed like the next step in a combat zone growing more unstable by the hour.
The Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces released two videos said to be from inside Ras al-Ayn, showing fighters saying that it is Saturday and they are still there.
No U.S. troops were hurt in Friday’s explosion at the small U.S. outpost, and the artillery strike marked the first time a coalition base was in the line of fire since Turkey’s offensive began.
Turkey has faced widespread condemnation coming their way from all across the globe following their actions in northern Syria. From UN to the US everyone has cautioned Turkey about their actions. Turkey, which is a part of NATO is at a risk of facing sanctions from EU. Here are 22 pictures that depict what really is happening in Syria.
An explosion was reported later Friday in northern Syria near an outpost where U.S. troops are located, but none of the Americans were hurt, according to a U.S. official and a Syria war monitor. It was unclear whether it was from artillery or an airstrike, and it was the first time a coalition base was in the line of fire since Turkey’s offensive began.
Syrians are fleeing by the tens of thousands yet again, a recurring nightmare of hastily packed bags, traffic-clogged highways and an uncertain fate.
India on Thursday slammed Turkey's unilateral military offensive in northeast Syria, saying it can undermine stability in the region and the fight against terrorism.
Turkey on Wednesday invaded Syria by having its military cross the border and enter the northern region of Syria and launched a massive military operation against the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK).
Plumes of smoke could be seen rising near the town of Qamishli and clashes continued late Wednesday amid intense shelling as Turkey struck at least six different border towns along a 290-mile (300-kilometre) stretch.
The White House said Sunday that Turkey will soon invade Northern Syria, renewing fears of slaughter of Kurdish fighters allied with the U.S. in a yearslong campaign against the Islamic State group.
Top News
Latest News
