U.S. considers leaving Syria completely

The United States is considering withdrawing its entire contingent of about 1,000 troops from Syria after the Syrian government ignored U.S. requests and conducted a lightning offensive against the Kurds, who are U.S. allies, the Wall Street Journal reported yesterday. U.S. officials stated that this will become even more likely if the main U.S.-backed Kurdish group, the Syrian Democratic Forces, fully dissolves. The Wall Street Journal said America faces challenges working with the Syrian military, which is “riddled with jihadist sympathizers, including soldiers with ties to al Qaeda and [the Islamic State] and others who have been involved in alleged war crimes against the Kurds and Druze.” President Trump has tried to portray Syria’s new regime as reformed, safe and cleansed from its former Islamist associations, yet it has some explaining to do as to why Syria’s jihadists in suits are ignoring U.S. interests and destroying U.S. allies.