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By: BBC
The United States is preparing to withdraw its remaining troops from Syria in the next few months, a senior White House official has told the BBC.
The official said the Syrian government has agreed to take the lead in fighting terrorism within its borders and a “large-scale” US military presence is no longer needed.
US troops have been in Syria since 2015, as part of a counter-terrorism campaign to counter the influence of the Islamic State (ISIS).
The decision comes as US President Donald Trump increases his military presence in the Middle East amid rising tensions with Iran.
The official noted that the decision to withdraw the approximately 1,000 remaining troops from Syria is part of a conditional transition, and that the United States remains prepared to respond to any threats in the region.
The news – first reported by the Wall Street Journal – comes amid a surge in US troops in the Middle East, particularly near Iran.
BBC Verify has confirmed the location of the USS Abraham Lincoln – carrying missiles and several warplanes – near Iran.
The United States has also reportedly sent the USS Gerald R Ford, the world’s largest warship, to the Middle East, expected to arrive in the region within the next three weeks.
