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Defense Minister Esper: withdrawn from Syria US troops are used in Iraq

2019-10-20T07:43:38.334Z


After their departure from northern Syria, US elite soldiers are to be relocated to West Iraq, according to Secretary of Defense Esper - and continue their fight against the IS.



Almost all US troops leaving Syria are to be transferred to Iraq. In the west of the country, the approximately 1000 soldiers then continue the campaign against the terrorist militia "Islamic State" (IS). Defense Minister Mark Esper said this on board a US military machine in front of journalists.

Recently, it was expected that some of the soldiers, most of whom were special forces, could be transferred to Jordan and back to the US, as well as Iraq.

The troop withdrawal continues quickly, he would "weeks, not days," said Esper. He should therefore be carried out with transport aircraft as well as by land convoy. (Which logistical challenges the withdrawal entails and which dangers the soldiers are exposed to, read here.)

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According to a senior US Department of Defense official quoted by Reuters, the situation is still in flux; the plans could change accordingly.

On the truce for northern Syria agreed with Turkey, Esper said it was "largely respected". Lastly, the Turks and the Kurds accused each other of violating the ceasefire.

The Turkish Ministry of Defense ordered the Kurdish militias on Saturday to be responsible for 14 heavy weapon attacks in the border towns of Tal Abiad and Ras al-Ain. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), led by Kurdish militias, accused the Turkish side of not allowing the opening of a humanitarian corridor for the embattled border town of Ras al-Ain.

Turkey had launched a military operation against the Kurdish YPG militia in northern Syria about a week ago. US President Donald Trump is criticized for having facilitated the Turkish offensive through the US troop deprivation he ordered from the border area.

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2019-10-20

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