Trump Orders Slowdown of US Withdrawal from Syria

US President Donald Trump. (Reuters)
US President Donald Trump. (Reuters)
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Trump Orders Slowdown of US Withdrawal from Syria

US President Donald Trump. (Reuters)
US President Donald Trump. (Reuters)

US President Donald Trump ordered a slowdown of the pullout of US troops in Syria, revealed Republican Senator Lindsey Graham Sunday.

"I think we're in a pause situation," he said outside the White House after lunch with the president.

Trump abruptly announced earlier this month that he was ordering the withdrawal of all the roughly 2,000 troops from war-torn Syria, with aides expecting it to take place swiftly. The president had declared victory over the ISIS terrorist group in Syria, though pockets of fighting remain.

The decision was roundly criticized by his national security advisers and Democratic and Republican lawmakers. It prompted Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to step down.

Graham had been an outspoken critic of Trump's decision. The announcement also had shocked lawmakers and American allies, including Kurds who have fought alongside the US against ISIS and face an expected assault by Turkey.

"I think we're slowing things down in a smart way," Graham said, adding that Trump was very aware of the plight of the Kurds.

Trump on Monday reiterated that he was slowly withdrawing troops.

"If anybody but Donald Trump did what I did in Syria, which was an ISIS loaded mess when I became President, they would be a national hero. ISIS is mostly gone, we're slowly sending our troops back home to be with their families, while at the same time fighting ISIS remnants," Trump tweeted.

Critics had contended that the US withdrawal would embolden Iran and Russia, which have supported the Syrian regime.

National security adviser John Bolton was expected to travel to Israel and Turkey next weekend to discuss the president's plans with the American allies.



Israel Says it Struck Hezbollah Targets in East Lebanon

Smoke rises after Israeli airstrikes in eastern Lebanon. Photo: X
Smoke rises after Israeli airstrikes in eastern Lebanon. Photo: X
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Israel Says it Struck Hezbollah Targets in East Lebanon

Smoke rises after Israeli airstrikes in eastern Lebanon. Photo: X
Smoke rises after Israeli airstrikes in eastern Lebanon. Photo: X

Israel's military said it was striking targets belonging to Hezbollah's Radwan force in eastern Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley on Tuesday, the latest attack despite a ceasefire between Israel and the group.

"Moments ago, Israeli Air Force fighter jets... began numerous strikes on Hezbollah terror targets in the area of Bekaa, Lebanon," it said in a statement. "The military compounds that were struck were used by the Hezbollah terrorist organization for training and exercising terrorists to plan and carry out terrorist attacks against (Israeli) troops and the State of Israel."

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that ongoing Israeli military strikes in Lebanon were a clear message to Hezbollah, which he said was plotting to rebuild raid capabilities against Israel through its Radwan Force.

Since the US-brokered ceasefire went into effect in November, Hezbollah has almost ended all its military presence along the border with Israel, which is insisting that the group disarms all over Lebanon.

The Hezbollah-Israel war left over 4,000 people dead in Lebanon and caused destruction estimated at $11 billion. In Israel, 127 people, including 80 soldiers, were killed during the war.

Since the ceasefire, Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes on different parts of Lebanon, killing about 250 people and injuring over 600. Israel is also still holding five strategic posts inside Lebanon that it refused to withdraw from earlier this year.