The US plans to maintain its military presence in Syria and after the rapid defeat of the terrorist group Islamic State. This was stated on Wednesday by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
“But let’s say it clearly: the US will maintain a military presence in Syria, focused on ensuring that the IS can not arise again.” Our military mission will depend on [a number of conditions. “We can not allow the same mistakes that were made in 2011, when the premature withdrawal from Iraq allowed Al Qaeda to survive and eventually become an IS,” the chief of US diplomacy said.
“This vacuum allowed the IG and other terrorist organizations to destroy the country and provided the IG with a safe haven that allowed planning attacks against Americans and our allies.” We can not allow history to repeat itself in Syria, “Tillerson continued.
In addition, the US Secretary of State noted that the group Islamic State to a large extent, but not completely destroyed in Syria.
“The IS is pretty much, but not completely defeated,” he said.
“The regime of [President Bashar] Asad controls about half of the territory and population of Syria,” the US foreign minister said.
About 715 thousand Syrians returned to their homes in 2017, including 15 thousand Syrian citizens who fled abroad, stressed the US Secretary of State
“A total of about 715 thousand Syrians, including 50 thousand Syrians from abroad, returned to their homes in 2017,” he said.
Tillerson also stressed that the US withdrawal from Syria will give Iran the opportunity to strengthen its position in this country.
“The US withdrawal from Syria will allow Iran to continue strengthening its positions in Syria,” he said.
The United States needs Russia to continue to work with Jordan and the US so that the ceasefire in the de-escalation zone in south-west Syria continues to be respected, Tillerson said.
“Last July, the US worked with Russia and Jordan to establish a de-escalation zone in south-western Syria, creating a ceasefire … We need Russia to continue to work with the United States and Jordan to operate this zone, he said.
The agreement on the establishment of a de-escalation zone in south-western Syria was reached in Hamburg on July 7. In accordance with it, an armistice in the provinces of Deraa, Al Quneitra and Essaouira came into force on 9 July.
