Fatal blast renews debate on US in Syria

The killing of four Americans in a suicide bombing claimed by ISIS in Syria has reopened a debate on the United States’ presence in the war-ravaged country.

Two US service members, along with a contractor and a civilian working for the Department of Defense, died in the blast in the north Syrian city of Manbij, and three other Americans were injured, according to media reports. More than a dozen civilians and Kurdish militia members also were reported killed.

US President Donald Trump announced last month that the US would withdraw its 2,000 troops from the Middle Eastern nation, although his National Security Advisor John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo seemed to walk back the timetable for the move.

US Vice-President Mike Pence, in a statement Wednesday, said: “President Trump and I condemn the terrorist attack in Syria that claimed American lives, and our hearts are with the loved ones of the fallen. We honor their memory and we will never forget their service and sacrifice.

“Thanks to the courage of our Armed Forces, we have crushed the ISIS caliphate and devastated its capabilities. As we begin to bring our troops home, the American people can be assured, for the sake of our soldiers, their families, and our nation, we will never allow the remnants of ISIS to re-establish their evil and murderous caliphate — not now, not ever.”

According to an ISIS statement, a person named Abu Yassin al-Shami approached a group of US-led coalition personnel and Kurdish militants near a restaurant and detonated a suicide belt.

“The restaurant is in the center of town, and it’s normally a crowded area,” Abu Ahmad, an activist in Manbij, was quoted in a story by the Los Angeles Times.

There is a contingent that believes the US should maintain something of a permanent presence in Syria. General James Mattis resigned as secretary of defense over Trump’s Dec 19 announcement of the pullback.

Pompeo has portrayed the pullout as a “tactical change”, with US troops relocating to Iraq and keeping the same objectives, which include expelling “every last Iranian boot” from Syria.

“This is noteworthy because President Trump had only recently said Iran could do what it wants in Syria. Committing the US to try to expel Iran sold well in Israel, and in other countries hostile toward Iran, but greatly undercut Trump,” the website antiwar.com reported.

Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said Wednesday that he is concerned that Trump’s statements about Syria have emboldened ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) and called on the president to reconsider his decision to withdraw American troops from the country.

Congressman Michael McCaul of Texas, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement: “Today’s deadly bombing targeting our troops in Syria is a reminder that ISIS still has the capacity to carry out attacks. I strongly urge the president to forcefully respond and ensure we do not withdraw our troops until ISIS is completely destroyed.”

Most of the US troops in Syria are stationed near the Iraq border.
Two Navy amphibious groups and about 4,500 shipboard Marines are on standby in the Middle East to support a withdrawal from Syria, according to the US Naval Institute News website, quoting a defense official in a story published Tuesday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will discuss the situation in Syria with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan this month and later host a trilateral summit with Erdogan and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, the Kremlin said Wednesday.
Putin will hold talks on Syria with Erdogan in Moscow on Jan 23. Russia is supportive of the government of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria.
Another issue in the US troop withdrawal in the future of US-allied Kurdish militias in the country, whom Trump said he did not want to be harmed by Turkish forces, who consider some Kurdish groups terrorists.
Erdogan said Turkey would set up a security zone in northern Syria, as suggested by Trump, aljazeera.com reported, quoting Erdogan as saying he held a “quite positive” telephone conversation with Trump on Monday where he reaffirmed “a 20-mile security zone along the Syrian border ... will be set up by us.”
“Spoke w/ President Erdogan of Turkey to advise where we stand on all matters including our last two weeks of success in fighting the remnants of ISIS, and 20-mile safe zone. Also spoke about economic development between the US & Turkey - great potential to substantially expand!” Trump tweeted on Monday.
On Sunday, he had tweeted: “Starting the long overdue pullout from Syria while hitting the little remaining ISIS territorial caliphate hard and from many directions. Will attack again from existing nearby base if it reforms. Will devastate Turkey economically if they hit Kurds. Create 20-mile safe zone....”

Xinhua contributed to this story.