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'Nothing has changed' in US mission in Syria: Pentagon

Diyaruna and AFP

A picture taken April 2nd shows a US military base in al-Asaliyah, between the Syrian city of Aleppo and the town of Manbij. Around 350 members of the international coalition, including US troops, are stationed in the area. [Delil Souleiman/AFP]

A picture taken April 2nd shows a US military base in al-Asaliyah, between the Syrian city of Aleppo and the town of Manbij. Around 350 members of the international coalition, including US troops, are stationed in the area. [Delil Souleiman/AFP]

The US military's Syria mission has not changed and troops will remain for now, the Pentagon said Thursday (April 5th), days after President Donald Trump said he wants US forces out.

"Our position in Syria has been to defeat the 'Islamic State of Iraq and Syria' (ISIS)," Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said. "That mission has not changed."

On Tuesday, Trump declared that the roughly 2,000 US troops taking part in the battle against ISIS would be coming home soon.

The White House on Wednesday said the US military mission in Syria was "coming to a rapid end" but indicated no timetable for a withdrawal.

"The military mission to eradicate ISIS in Syria is coming to a rapid end, with ISIS being almost completely destroyed," a White House statement said.

"The US and our partners remain committed to eliminating the small ISIS presence in Syria that our forces have not already eradicated."

"We will continue to consult with our allies and friends regarding future plans. We expect countries in the region and beyond, plus the UN, to work toward peace and ensure that ISIS never re-emerges."

Military policy 'remains the same'

On Thursday, Pentagon Joint Staff Director Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie said the military policy remains the same.

"We have always thought that as we reach finality against ISIS in Syria we are going to adjust the level of our presence there, so in that sense nothing actually has changed," he said.

The international coalition continued to strike ISIS targets in designated parts of Syria and Iraq between March 30th and April 5th, a coalition statement said Friday.

The most recent strike in Syria came on Sunday (April 1st), when coalition forces conducted a strike consisting of three engagements against ISIS targets near Albu Kamal, the statement said.

The strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed an ISIS vehicle.

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