The US plans to keep about 1,000 troops in Syria, despite an earlier announcement by President Donald Trump to completely withdraw them from the Arab country.
The reversal comes after talks with Turkey as well as US-backed Kurdish forces and European allies failed to produce an agreement on a “safe zone” in northeast Syria where terrorists are based in their last bastion.
Trump has suggested the creation of a 30-kilometer safe zone along Turkey’s border with Syria, but has not specified who would create, enforce or pay for it, or where it would be located.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned the United States and allies operating along the Syria border that any safe zone in the area should be under Ankara’s control.