U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton has announced he would travel to Turkey and Israel next month, as the U.S. begins its withdrawal of military forces from Syria. Hurriyet reports.
Bolton said he would discuss security issues within the region, as well as next steps in the fight against ISIL as the U.S. leaves the area.
“We will discuss our continued work confronting security challenges facing allies & partners in the region, including the next phase of the fight against ISIS, as the U.S. begins to bring troops home from Syria,” Bolton said on Twitter, using another name for ISIL.
In a surprising move, U.S. President Donald Trump last week announced the withdrawal of 2,000 troops from Syria. Trump made the decision during a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Trump’s announcement was unexpected by many following remarks senior officials, including Bolton, who had maintained the U.S. would not leave Syria until Iran exited the country.