The US general in charge of military action in the Middle East said Tuesday that he had not been consulted before President Trump abruptly announced that American troops would be leaving Syria.
“I was not aware of the specific announcement,” Central Command commander Gen. Joseph Votel told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
“Certainly we are aware that he has expressed a desire and an intent in the past to depart Syria,” he said, adding that “I was not consulted.”
Votel warned that ISIS would pose an enduring threat following a planned US withdrawal from Syria, saying the militant group retained leaders, fighters, facilitators and resources that will fuel a menacing insurgency.
“We do have to keep pressure on this network. They have the ability of coming back together if we don’t,” Votel told the panel.
He added that territory under ISIS control had been reduced to less than 20 square miles and would soon be recaptured by US-backed forces prior to the withdrawal, which he said would be carried out in a “deliberate and coordinated manner.”
Trump’s surprise decision to withdraw America’s more than 2,000 troops from Syria helped trigger the resignation of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.
The Republican-led Senate on Monday backed a resolution that broke with Trump by opposing plans for any abrupt withdrawal of troops from Syria and Afghanistan.
It warned that “a precipitous withdrawal” could destabilize the region and create a vacuum that could be filled by Iran or Russia.
Trump was expected to tout US successes in Syria when he appeared before a joint session of Congress to deliver his State of the Union speech Tuesday night.
A source close to Trump told Reuters the president will declare the militant group all but defeated and will discuss his planned Syria drawdown.
The Pentagon’s own internal watchdog released a report on Monday saying ISIS remained an active insurgent group and was regenerating functions and capabilities more quickly in Iraq than in Syria.
“Absent sustained pressure, ISIS could likely resurge in Syria within six to 12 months and regain limited territory,” the report from the Pentagon’s inspector general said.
The report, citing information from Central Command, said ISIS would portray the withdrawal as a “victory” and conduct attacks on American personnel during the pullout process.
With Reuters
