Middle East

US Says There Are 'Conditions' To Be Met Before Syria Withdrawal

For starters, the U.S. wants assurances its Kurdish allies will be safe.

US Says There Are 'Conditions' To Be Met Before Syria Withdrawal
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White House national security adviser John Bolton said Sunday that the U.S. won't withdraw troops from northern Syria until certain conditions are met.

Bolton made the comments on a trip to Israel meant to reassure the country about the president's plan to withdraw troops from neighboring Syria.

In December, President Donald Trump announced the U.S. would withdraw all its forces in Syria immediately. 

But Bolton told reporters in Jerusalem there wasn't a timetable to leave northeastern Syria. Instead, he said, the U.S. will stay until remnants of ISIS are defeated and until Turkey guarantees the safety of Kurdish forces in Syria.

Turkey's government believes the Kurdish fighters have ties to Kurdish insurgents within its borders, and it's attacked the fighters in the past.

Bolton will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan this week to discuss the issue.

Additional reporting by Newsy affiliate CNN.