Islam Times - US deploying 250 trucks of arms in Syria despite withdrawal claim

Islam Times - The US has reportedly deployed at least 250 trucks filled with weapons, ammunition and logistic equipment, into its bases in Syria despite Trump’s earlier claim that he would withdraw all American forces from the Arab country.

A video by the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights shows the entry of about 250 trucks loaded with weapons and logistic equipments.

The SOHR has obtained information from a number of reliable sources that a column of over 100 vehicles carrying military and logistic equipment has entered the Syrian territory in the east of the Euphrates, coming from Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

According to the Observatory, the arms have been distributed to the US-led coalition’s military bases in Al-Hasakah, Al-Raqqah and Aleppo.

The alleged deployment of weapons comes as Trump announced a plan to withdraw American forces from Syria last month amid preparations by Turkey to launch an operation against US-backed Kurdish militants in northern Syria.

His abrupt move sparked concern among officials in Washington, prompting Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to step down in protest.

The planned pullout also raised worries among the anti-Damascus Kurds operating in northern Syria and left them feeling abandoned by Washington.

The opponents of the decision argued that leaving the years-long Syrian conflict amounts to a victory for Iran and Russia, who have helped the Syrian government purge foreign-backed militants from most parts of the country.

In what seemed to be a sign of disagreement in Washington over Trump’s order to evacuate the Arab country, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently announced American military forces will remain in Syria until Daesh terrorists are defeated.

“And so in Syria, President Trump has made a tactical decision,” Pompeo told Fox News.

“We’re going to withdraw our 2,000 uniformed military personnel from that country, but make no mistake about it: the defeat of the caliphate, the ISIS caliphate in Syria, is almost complete. We’re going to stay there till it’s done,” he said, using another acronym for Daesh.

Upon unveiling his plans for Syria, Trump claimed that American troops were going back home because, with Daesh defeated, their mission there had come to an end.

Meanwhile, the founder of an infamous private military company recently noted that American troops in Syria could be replaced with mercenaries after a planned drawdown ordered by Trump.

In an interview with Fox Business, Erik Prince, who founded Blackwater now called Academi, welcomed Trump's Syria pullout decision, adding, however, that the US allies should not be abandoned in the war-torn country.

“The United States doesn’t have a long-term strategic obligation to stay in Syria. But, I also think it’s not a good idea to abandon our allies,” he said.