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U.S. signals open-ended presence in Syria, seeks patience on Assad's removal
Source: Reuters
#WORLD NEWS JANUARY 17, 2018 / 3:13 PM / UPDATED 39 MINUTES AGO
U.S. signals open-ended presence in Syria, seeks patience on Assad's removal
David Brunnstrom
6 MIN READ
PALO ALTO, Calif. (Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday signaled an open-ended military presence in Syria as part of a broader strategy to prevent Islamic State’s resurgence, pave the way diplomatically for the eventual departure of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and curtail Iran’s influence.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, in a speech at Stanford University, called for “patience” on Assad’s departure - the clearest indication yet of an acknowledgment that Russia and Iran have bolstered Assad and that he is unlikely to leave power immediately.
Billed as the Trump administration’s new strategy on Syria, the announcement will prolong the risks and redefine the mission for the U.S. military, which has for years sought to define its operations in Syria along more narrow lines of battling Islamic State and has about 2,000 U.S. ground forces in the country.
While much of the U.S. strategy would focus on diplomatic efforts, Tillerson said:
“But let us be clear: the United States will maintain a military presence in Syria, focused on ensuring ISIS cannot re-emerge,” while acknowledging many Americans’ skepticism of military involvement in conflicts abroad, Tillerson said.
-snip-
U.S. signals open-ended presence in Syria, seeks patience on Assad's removal
David Brunnstrom
6 MIN READ
PALO ALTO, Calif. (Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday signaled an open-ended military presence in Syria as part of a broader strategy to prevent Islamic State’s resurgence, pave the way diplomatically for the eventual departure of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and curtail Iran’s influence.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, in a speech at Stanford University, called for “patience” on Assad’s departure - the clearest indication yet of an acknowledgment that Russia and Iran have bolstered Assad and that he is unlikely to leave power immediately.
Billed as the Trump administration’s new strategy on Syria, the announcement will prolong the risks and redefine the mission for the U.S. military, which has for years sought to define its operations in Syria along more narrow lines of battling Islamic State and has about 2,000 U.S. ground forces in the country.
While much of the U.S. strategy would focus on diplomatic efforts, Tillerson said:
“But let us be clear: the United States will maintain a military presence in Syria, focused on ensuring ISIS cannot re-emerge,” while acknowledging many Americans’ skepticism of military involvement in conflicts abroad, Tillerson said.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-tillerson/u-s-signals-open-ended-presence-in-syria-seeks-patience-on-assads-removal-idUSKBN1F62R8
