US President Trump has given the
Pentagon authority to independently set troop levels in Iraq and
Syria, and to ensure commanders’ flexibility. Over 5,000 troops are
deployed in Iraq, and 500 in Syria, where they operate without
Damascus’ invitation.
“The President has delegated
the authority for Force Management Levels (FML) for Iraq and Syria to
the [Defense] Secretary [James Mattis],” said Captain Jeff
Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, as cited by ABC.
He also said that no change has
been made at this stage to the number of US troops in the Middle
East, adding that the current military strategy involves rendering
support to local militias fighting Islamic State (IS, formerly
ISIS/ISIL).
The move does not mean that the
numbers of troops in Iraq and Syria will change “nor does it
change the process by which we will manage those forces,” said
Davis.
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