US seeks to ease allies' concerns about withdrawal from Syria
(Baonghean.vn) - Politicians and analysts say the US government is establishing new bases in Iraq to reduce the severity of the message from the decision to withdraw US troops from neighboring Syria to partners in the Middle East.
 |
| The US government is setting up new bases in Iraq. Photo: Getty |
On December 19, the White House announced that the US would withdraw all 2,000 troops from Syria within 60-100 days based on the defeat of the Islamic State (IS) in this Middle Eastern country. US Secretary of Defense James Mattis resigned a day later, citing his views as inconsistent with those of President Trump.
On December 26, the media quoted Iraqi officials as saying that the US Army had established two new military bases in the western province of Anbar. That same night, President Trump and his wife Melania made a surprise visit to Al Asad Air Base to thank US troops for their service there.
Mr Trump said he had no plans to withdraw the roughly 5,000 troops from Iraq, suggesting the Middle Eastern country could be used as a base if the US wanted to operate in Syria in the future. US troops have been stationed in Iraq since the war began in 2003.
 |
| President Trump and his wife Melania made a surprise visit to Al Asad Air Base (Iraq). Photo: AP |
Professor Moshe Maoz, who studies Islam and the Middle East at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said that the US has the ability to conduct military operations in Syria using bases in Iraq.
"Air strikes or other military operations, they can carry out from Iraqi territory. Now they also have a new base near the Iraqi border in Anbar province. I think Mr. Trump wants to compromise or soften the message of withdrawing troops from Syria by pointing out that there are still some bases in Iraq, which play an important role, but not on a large scale but limited," Mr. Maoz said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Wa'el Alzayat, CEO of the Emgage Foundation and expert at the Middle East Institute, commented that the latest step of the US administration shows Washington's commitment to help maintain security in Iraq.
The chairman of the Syrian Assyrian Democratic Party, Ninos Isho, believes that the US involvement in Syria will not help defeat terrorists in the Middle Eastern country, because the fight against terrorism is just an excuse for Washington to deploy troops in Syria. The politician added that the US presence in Syria will only complicate the process of solving current problems in this Arab country.
"From the very beginning, we have viewed the US presence in Syria as an illegal presence, an occupation of Syrian territory, and not helping to bring about a peaceful solution to the Syrian issue, but only complicating and promoting the idea of dividing this Middle Eastern country. Therefore, we support the US withdrawal in both the military and political aspects, from which the Syrian people can resolve all internal issues without interference," Mr. Isho shared.
