U.S. says it will keep 200 troops in Syria after allies criticized pull-out plan

The United States will leave"a small peacekeeping group" of 200 American troops in Syria fora period of time after a U.S. pullout, the White House said onThursday, as President Donald Trump pulled back from a completewithdrawal.

Trump in December ordered a withdrawal of the 2,000 U.S.troops in Syria on the defeat of the last remnants of ISIS militants there.

But Trump has been under pressure from multiple advisers toadjust his policy to ensure the protection of Kurdish forces,who supported the fight against ISIS and who might nowbe threatened by Turkey, and to serve as a bulwark againstIran's influence.

"A small peacekeeping group of about 200 will remain inSyria for a period of time," White House spokeswoman SarahSanders said in a statement.

'A clear direction to our allies'

The decision was announced after Trump spoke by phone toTurkish President Tayyip Erdogan. A White House statement said the two leaders agreed, regarding Syria, to "continuecoordinating on the creation of a potential safe zone."

A senior administration official said Trump's decision hadbeen in the works for some time. It was unclear how long the 200troops would be expected to remain in the area or where exactlythey would be deployed.

Leaving even a small group of U.S. troops in Syria couldpave the way for European allies to commit hundreds of troops tohelp set up and observe a potential safe zone in northeastSyria.

U.S. begins pulling troops out of Syria as Trump claims victory over ISIS:

U.S. begins pulling troops out of Syria as Trump claims victory over ISIS

6 years ago

Duration 2:39

U.S. President Trump has begun what will be a total withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria, declaring on Wednesday they have succeeded in their mission to defeat Islamic State and were no longer needed in the country.

"This is a clear direction to our allies and coalitionmembers that we will be on the ground in some capacity," thesenior administration official said.

The decision to retain peacekeepers could help Trumpovercome criticism that he had ordered a precipitous withdrawal from Syria that could lead to ISIS gatheringstrength.

More talks planned

Turkey wants to set up a safe zone with logistical supportfrom allies and says it should be cleared of the U.S.-backedKurdish YPG militia, which Ankara considers a terrorist group.

On Thursday, acting Pentagon chief Patrick Shanahan met withhis counterpart from Belgium. Before the meeting, Belgium'sminister of defence, Didier Reynders, was asked whether he wouldbe open to keeping troops if there were no American forces left.

"We are waiting for preparation of the withdrawal of U.S.troops and we are waiting now for more discussions ... but it was the beginning of the discussion inMunich,"Reynderssaid.

Until now, European allies have balked at providing troopsunless they received a firm commitment that Washington was stillcommitted to the region.

U.S. officials have told Reuters that while in Munich lastweek, Shanahan held a meeting on Syria with a small group ofdefense ministers. In the meeting they talked about needing somesort of security arrangement in northeast Syria after the UnitedStates has left.

Shanahan will meet his Turkish counterpart onFriday.

Republican Sen.Lindsey Graham, speaking at the MunichSecurity Conference last week, said the top U.S. general wouldask allies to contribute forces to help stabilize areasliberated from Islamic State.