U.S. Secretary of State Tillerson: U.S. Military To Maintain Open-Ended Presence In Syria

The Guardian: US military to maintain open-ended presence in Syria, Tillerson says

US secretary of state says forces will remain in country in push against Isis, Bashar al-Assad and Iranian influence

The US intends to maintain an open-ended military presence in Syria, not only to fight Isis and al-Qaida but also to provide a bulwark against Iranian influence, ensure the departure of the Assad regime and create conditions for the return of refugees, the secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, said on Wednesday.

The new Syria policy, outlined by Tillerson in a speech at Stanford University, represents a significant expansion of US aims in the country, which the Trump administration had previously restricted to counter-terrorism throughout its first year in office.

Read more ....

More News On U.S. Secretary of State Tillerson's Remarks That The U.S. Military To Maintain Open-Ended Presence In Syria

Rex Tillerson signals an open-ended US military presence in Syria -- Business Insider/Reuters
Tillerson signals deeper US military commitment in Syria -- Washington Post
Tillerson: U.S. 'will maintain a military presence in Syria' -- Politico
Tillerson outlines plan for long-term US military role in Syria -- The Hill
Tillerson says US military should stay in Syria and vows diplomatic push to end civil war -- Los Angeles Times
Tillerson touts indefinite US presence in Syria & Assad must go in ‘new’ plan -- RT
US-Led Coalition Goes Ahead With Training New Border Force in Syria - Reports -- Sputnik International
Tillerson Pledges Open-Ended Military Presence In Syria To Counter Iran -- Zero Hedge

Both The U.S. And Russia Want To Maintain A Military Presence In Syria

Defense News: Russia and US engage in 'military base race' in Syria

BEIRUT ― A military bases race is underway between Russia and the U.S. as each nation seeks to expand its presence in Syria and counter asymmetric threats.

The U.S. has a military presence in several key locations, but there are two areas with heavy U.S. troop presence that are being transformed to military bases, according to a military source: The first is located in Al Tabaqah near Al Raqqa north Syria, where the U.S. special forces troops are training Kurdish groups; the other is constructed in Al-Tanf where the U.S. troops prevent Syrian and Russian armed forces from crossing.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Both Russia and the U.S. want to stay in Syria, but their objectives are different .... Russia to have an airbase in the Middle East and a naval base on the Mediterranean, and the U.S. to stop Iranian plans to have a land route from Iran to their Hezbollah and Syrian allies. But while the Russian bases does expose their soldiers to symmetric threats .... the U.S. presence is in the heart of Kurdish and Syrian rebels strongholds who have no love for the Syrian government and its allies. But of the two .... the U.S. is diplomatically in a more difficult place. The Syrian government wants the U.S. out, and for many countries the Assad regime is the legitimate government of Syria.

Syrian Army Vows To Eject U.S. Forces Out Of The Country

© Sputnik/ Mikhail Alayeddin

CNN: Syrian army vows to eject US troops

Washington (CNN)Troops allied with Syria's President Bashar al-Assad are determined to "end the presence of the US" in the country, Syria's state-run news agency, SANA, said Monday, citing an official at the regime's Foreign Ministry.

The official told SANA that the Assad-aligned Syrian Arab Army would thwart the "conspiracy, end the presence of the US, its agents and tools in Syria, establish full control over the entire Syrian territory and preserve the country's sovereignty."

The US maintains some 2,000 troops in Syria and has said its forces will continue to back local anti-ISIS forces there until the extremist group is defeated and the area is stabilized.

The Syrian statement comes after the US-led coalition fighting ISIS announced plans Sunday to boost border security in the region, a move that Syrian and Turkish officials have said would destabilize the region.

Read more ....

Update #1: Syrian Regime's Army Vows to Drive Out US from Country (FOX News)
Update #2: Syrian army to end U.S. presence in the country: state TV citing FM source (Reuters)

WNU Editor: With the Russians, Iranians, and Turks condemning the U.S. and their support of the Kurds, I guess the Syrians now feel confident that they can also jump in and threaten the U.S..

Syrian Rebel Envoys In Washington Asking For A Revival Of CIA Aid

Rebel fighters walk carrying their weapons on the outskirts of the northern Syrian town of al-Bab, Syria January 15, 2017. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi

Reuters: Syrian rebel delegation in Washington seeking revival of CIA aid

AMMAN (Reuters) - Free Syrian Army envoys have urged U.S. officials at talks in Washington to resume a suspended CIA program of military aid if it is serious about challenging growing Iranian influence in Syria, according to Syrian opposition figures.

Mustafa Sejari, a senior official in Syria’s mainstream rebel group, said the envoys described to U.S. officials the damaging impact of President Donald Trump’s decision last year to stop equipping and training certain rebel groups.

Trump’s move was driven by a wish to focus on fighting Islamic State militants and to improve relations with Russia, as well as a lack of results from the CIA’s support of the FSA, U.S. officials suggested.

“We endorse President Trump’s statements about the need to confront Iranian hegemony in the region. It is time to turn words into action. Until now on the ground it’s the Iranian militias that are expanding without serious resistance,” Sejari told Reuters by telephone from Washington.

Read more ....

Update: Syrian rebels make pitch to restore CIA program: report (The Hill)

WNU Editor: They are using the Iranian card to get the CIA to resume aid. Will it work? I doubt it, but this is one those stories that the truth will only be known later.