On Sunday, House Intelligence Committee Chair Mike Turner (R-Ohio) expressed his belief that under President-elect Trump, an evaluation will occur regarding the presence of U.S. troops in Syria. Turner emphasized during an interview with CBS News’s Margaret Brennan on “Face the Nation” that any threats to American troops would be met with a strong response, stating, “Everyone should understand absolutely that the United States’s troops are to be secure.”
He further noted that Trump is supportive of the Kurds and aims to pursue a diplomatic resolution, indicating that there would be an assessment on whether troops should remain deployed in the region. Currently, the U.S. maintains 900 troops in Syria’s Kurdish-held northeast, where they are engaged in combat against the resurgence of ISIS.
Turner warns against threats to U.S. troops and emphasizes security in Syria
The Syrian government fell early Sunday after rebels entered the capital, Damascus, marking the conclusion of the Assad family’s 50-year rule in the country. This switch followed a rapid 10-day offensive by rebels who swiftly captured major territories previously held by the government. In the wake of the government’s collapse, Turner commented that Iran and Russia have played brutal roles in supporting Assad.
He added that the conflict has led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, including the use of chemical weapons, under Russian influence. Turner also pointed out that Russia maintains two military bases in Syria, which pose risks not only to Russian forces but also to the Syrian population, as they have previously been used to launch attacks on civilians.
On Saturday, Trump shared his views on Truth Social, declaring that “Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!”
