President Trump has demanded that the U.S. finish its mission in Syria within six months, CNN reported Thursday. The request for a hasty retreat is apparently meant to achieve the "rapid end" to U.S. involvement in the country that the White House promised Wednesday.
There are roughly 2,000 troops in Syria, working to fight against the Islamic State, but the White House said yesterday that ISIS is "almost completely destroyed." Despite the protests of his national security team and top military officials, CNN reports, Trump said that the mission needs to be finished in six months so that troops can come home.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Advisers reportedly told Trump that leaving Syria so quickly would leave the region open to increased involvement from Russia, Turkey, and Iran. Trump was reportedly frustrated, and spent much of the meeting complaining about the cost of U.S. involvement in Syria without anything in return. Officials denied that a timeline for withdrawal was discussed, and White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Wednesday that Trump would not "put an arbitrary timeline" on winning the battle against ISIS. Read more at CNN.
-
‘Congratulations on your house, but maybe try a greyhound instead’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
How climate change poses a national security threatThe explainer A global problem causing more global problems
-
The 5 best TV shows about the mobThe Week Recommends From the show that launched TV’s golden age to a Batman spin-off, viewers can’t get enough of these magnificent mobsters
-
British warship repels 'largest Houthi attack to date' in the Red SeaSpeed read Western allies warn of military response to Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels if attacks on ships continue
-
Houthi rebels claim Red Sea ship attacksspeed read Iran-backed Yemeni group vows to escalate aggression towards Israel-linked vessels in revenge for Gaza war
-
Israel plans next phase of Gaza war as first hostages releasedSpeed read After four-day ceasefire 'we will not stop' until destruction of Hamas, says Israel
-
Mob storms Russian airport 'looking for Jews'Speed Read Plane from Israel surrounded by rioters chanting antisemitic slogans after landing in Russia's Dagestan region
-
Tuberville's military promotions block is upending lives, combat readiness, 3 military branch chiefs saySpeed Read
-
Ukraine's counteroffensive is making incremental gains. Does it matter in the broader war?Speed Read
-
US commissions first-ever Navy ship in a foreign portSpeed Read
-
British spy chief, Wagner video suggest Prigozhin is alive and freely 'floating around'Speed Read
