Former senior US diplomat urges Congress to keep US troops in Syria

A former senior US diplomat, James Jeffrey, urged Congress to maintain a US military presence in Syria until the mission against the Islamic State (IS) is fully resolved. Speaking to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Jeffrey advocated for keeping troops and diplomatic staff in the country to manage regional stability and the transfer of IS prisoners. This recommendation comes as the Trump administration considers a complete withdrawal following the rise of a new Syrian president and the potential collapse of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Jeffrey also acknowledged that the new Syrian president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, shares some of the same goals as the US, despite his past as a designated terrorist.