U.S. weighs full withdrawal of troops from Syria - report

The United States is considering a "complete withdrawal" of troops from Syria following the collapse of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa moved to wrest control of the northeastern part of Syria, the Wall Street Journal reported.

"The head-spinning events of the last week" have led the Pentagon to question the viability of the U.S. military’s mission in Syria after the SDF’s defeat," the newspaper reported, citing three U.S. officials.

U.S. officials see "no reason" to keep American troops in Syria if the SDF completely disbands, it added.

U.S. President Donald Trump, shortly after taking office for a second term last January, said he "will make a determination" on troops in Syria.

On January 18, the Syrian President announced a deal with SDF chief Mazloum Abdi that had included a ceasefire and the integration of the SDF into the state.

Meanwhile, Syria said on January 23 that government forces had begun transferring the SDF members from a prison in the north where they had been holding ISIS (the terrorist group banned in Russia) detainees, as part of the weekend agreement.