Washington D.C. – Today, House Foreign Affairs Lead Republican Michael McCaul (R-TX) released the following statement on reports that the Administration will leave 200 American troops in Syria, retreating from a full withdrawal. 

Lead Republican McCaul: “I thank the Administration for their decision not to proceed with a rapid and full withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria. As much as we wish it to be so, the fight against ISIS will not end once they have lost control of territory. We learned this lesson when the prior Administration withdrew precipitously from Iraq, creating a dangerous power vacuum that ISIS exploited and thrived in. We and our allies must remain vigilant and prevent these brutal terrorists from continuing to wreak havoc in the Middle East and potentially elsewhere. U.S. troops will provide critical advice and support to continue this important counterterrorism mission, rather than ceding this space to terrorists and adversaries with destabilizing agendas, such as Iran. Maintaining a contingent of U.S. troops is an important step to support our partners as we work together to address the wide range of challenges posed by the Syrian conflict. I appreciate the Administration’s willingness to listen to feedback and re-evaluate thinking on this vital matter.”

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