US Senate rejects resolution for swift US withdrawal from Syria

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
7 Dec 2023 21:45
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The US has maintained an illegal presence and troops in Syria under the guise of fighting ISIS since 2014.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and other senators arrive at the chamber for votes, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023 (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

The US Senate on Thursday rejected a joint resolution proposed by Senator Rand Paul, calling for the Biden administration to withdraw US occupation forces from Syria within a 30-day timeframe.

Senators voted against advancing the resolution, with 13 members in favor and 84 opposed.

"The American people have had enough of endless wars in the Middle East. Yet, 900 US troops remain in Syria with no vital US interest at stake, no definition of victory, no exit strategy, and no congressional authorization to be there," Paul said in a statement on the resolution.

The resolution instructs the president to withdraw US troops from activities "in or affecting Syria" within 30 days of its adoption unless Congress enacts a declaration of war or another authorization for the use of force.

The US has maintained an illegal presence and troops in Syria under the guise of fighting ISIS since 2014.

US-backed forces are currently occupying parts of the provinces of Al-Hasakah, Deir Ezzor, and Raqqa, where the largest Syrian oil and gas fields are located.

US forces in Syria, Iraq attacked 76 times since October 7

On Monday, a Pentagon official highlighted that US forces and the international coalition were attacked at least 76 times in Iraq and Syria since the start of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7.

The surge in attacks is attributed to US complicity in the Gaza genocide.

According to the top defense official, the attacks on the US forces consists of drone and short-range ballistic missile attacks. 36 attacks took place in Iraq and another 40 took place in Syria.

The Resistance in Iraq affirmed on Sunday that it would remain steadfast in its confrontations against its enemies, promising to intensify its attacks against the US occupation forces, until they are "expelled, humiliated, and defeated from" Iraq.

On his part, the director of Al Mayadeen's bureau in Iraq, Abdullah Badran, said it is still unclear to this moment whether the strike was executed by an American drone or a fighter jet.

Badran also revealed that the martyred individuals were being monitored, as their location at the time of the attack is close to an area where ISIS terrorists are known to be active.