Is the US Abandoning Kurds in Syria?

FEATURING KANI XULAM – The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday morning that the US military is preparing for a complete withdrawal of US forces from Syria. The only indication that Trump gave on this surprise announcement was a cryptic tweet on Wednesday morning saying, “We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump Presidency.” The Wall Street Journal gave another explanation for US withdrawal from Syria saying, “The move follows a call last week between Mr. Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has threatened to launch an assault on America’s Kurdish partners in Syria.”

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces announced in a strongly worded statement that the US withdrawal would only lead to resurgence in ISIS forces and destabilize the region. The group said, “The war against terrorism has not ended and (the Islamic State group) has not been defeated,” and that, “The decision to pull out under these circumstances will lead to a state of instability and create a political and military void in the region and leave its people between the claws of enemy forces.” Russian President Vladimir Putin however, welcomed the news of US withdrawal saying, “Donald’s right, and I agree with him.” Russia has been Syrian President Bashar Al Assad’s strongest ally in a brutal war for years now, and routinely carries out bombing raids in the country. A day after Trump’s announcement on Syria, Gen. James Mattis turned in his resignation as Defense Secretary, apparently over the withdrawal.

Kani Xulam, Director of the American Kurdish Information Network.