‘US troops to stay in Syria’

New York : US troops would not leave Syria as long as Iranian forces its proxies were operating in foreign countries, one of Donald Trump’s closest advisors warned yesterday. The warning from US National Security adviser John Bolton was a clear statement of the White Houses intent to curtail Tehran’s influence in Syria and other countries in the region. Iran was responsible for attacks in Syria, and Lebanon and was responsible for the shooting down of a Russian military aircraft last week, Bolton said. Bolton said the US would keep a military presence in Syria until Iran is no longer active there.

“We’re not going to leave as long as Iranian troops are outside Iranian borders and that includes Iranian proxies and militias,” he said. Both Israel and US and neighboring Arab countries have all expressed their deep concern about Iran’s powerful presence in Syria and how long it plans to stay. Israel has carried out strikes against many sites in Syria linked to Iranian militias.