US lawmakers introduce resolution against troop withdrawal from Syria

Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell and other top Republican senators introduced a resolution opposing the decision of US President Donald Trump to withdraw troops from northeastern Syria after the House of Representatives approved a similar resolution last week. The Senators warned that such a move will benefit Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the Islamic State, Russia, and Iran.

"If not arrested, withdrawing from Syria will invite more of the chaos that breeds terrorism and creates a vacuum our adversaries will certainly fill," McConnell was quoted by an American news channel. 

On the footsteps of the House of Representatives

A similar resolution was approved by the House of Representatives, on October 16, with 354 votes in favour and 60 against it. “An abrupt withdrawal of United States military personnel from certain parts of Northeast Syria is beneficial to adversaries of the United States government, including Syria, Iran, and Russia,” read the resolution.

Read: Turkey Signals It’s Holding Back On Resuming Syria Push

Trump's controversial decision

Trump’s decision to withdraw troops from northeastern Syria was followed by a violent clash between Turkish forces and Syrian Kurdish fighters. Democrats have blamed Trump for giving a green signal to an impending clash. Trump, later, threatened Turkey of destroying the economy if they don’t stop the Syrian offensive and also asked the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, not to be a “fool”. This was followed by an agreement with Turkey for a five-day ceasefire. 

Read: Iraq: American Troops Leaving Syria Cannot Stay In Iraq

Erdogan's threat after the ceasefire deadline ended

The deadline of the ceasefire ended on October 22 and Erdogan took no time to warn Syrian Kurdish fighters of yet another offensive. Erdogan said that around 800 Syrian Kurdish fighters have already left but 1,300 fighters are yet to vacate the region.

“If America does not keep to its promises, our offensive will continue from where it left off, with a much greater determination”, Erdogan said. “There is no place for them (Kurdish fighters) in Syria’s future. We hope that with Russia’s cooperation, we will rid the region of separatist terror”, he added.

Read: Turkey: Erdogan Threatens To Resume Syrian Offensive As Deadline Ends

Read: US-Turkey Deadline Of Withdrawing Turkish Military From Syria Ends

(With Inputs from Agencies)