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December 21, 2018

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IS revival feared as US鈥 Syria air war ends

Source: Agencies | 00:32 UTC+8 December 21, 2018 | Print Edition

US President Donald Trump鈥檚 order to withdraw US troops from Syria also signifies an end to the US air campaign against Islamic State there, US officials said yesterday speaking on condition of anonymity.

Trump鈥檚 surprise decision on Wednesday to completely withdraw US troops from the country triggered criticism from some Republicans and concern from America鈥檚 allies.

An end to the US air war will likely heighten fears that Islamic State, which has lost almost all of the territory it once controlled, could be given space to regroup.

The announcement of a withdrawal of troops on the ground had not necessarily meant an end to the air war since, unlike ground troops, major US air assets are not based in Syria and instead fly into the country from nearby nations. The US air operations center for the air war is located in Qatar.

The US-led air war has been critical to rolling back Islamic State and keeping pressure on the militant group in Iraq and Syria, with more than 100,000 bombs and missiles fired at targets in the two countries since 2015, according to Air Force data.

US officials said that the timing of the end of the air campaign would be linked to the withdrawal of the US forces but declined to set a date for when that would happen.

US air assets are essential not only for offensive strikes against militants but also to defend US troops on the ground. That role will be paramount to ensuring an orderly and safe exit by American forces from Syria.

Trump鈥檚 surprise announcement on Wednesday about a complete withdrawal from Syria has left many questions unanswered, including how US allies and partners will fill the void.

Some of Trump鈥檚 fellow Republicans strongly criticized the move, saying they were not briefed ahead of time and that the move strengthened the hand of Russia and Iran, which both support Syrian President Bashar al Assad.

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