Umar Farooq
February 23, 2019•Update: February 23, 2019
By Umar Farooq
WASHINGTON
A couple hundred American troops will remain in Syria after the U.S. pullout as part of a multinational force to establish a safe zone in the region, the Pentagon said Friday.
"U.S. forces numbering a couple hundred will remain in northeast Syria as part of a multinational force," Pentagon spokesman Sean Robertson said.
"Safe zone is the terminology," he said.
Robertson said the U.S. is looking at the "safe zone along the Turkish border".
"The multinational observing and monitoring force will be made up primarily of NATO allies, who along with U.S. forces will maintain stability and prevent an ISIS resurgence in Syria," Robertson added, using another term for Daesh.
A defense official who spoke to Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity said Turkish and SDF forces would not be involved in the planned safe zone.
On Thursday, the White House said 200 troops will remain in Syria as part of a peacekeeping effort. However, a report published by The Washington Post said 400 troops will remain, with 200 in northeast Syria and another 200 at the al-Tanf garrison in southern Syria.
"The U.S. will maintain a presence at the al-Tanf garrison in southern Syria," said Robertson.
The base at al-Tanf has been viewed by some within the administration as a critical foil to Iran establishing a land route from Tehran to Damascus via Iraq.
*Kasim Ileri contributed to this report from the Pentagon
