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Syria mission coming to 'rapid end' but not over yet - White House

The White House says the U.S. military mission to eradicate the Daesh terror group in Syria is coming to a "rapid end" but offers no timetable for withdrawal.

AFP & AP WORLD
Published April 04,2018
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The White House said Wednesday that the US military mission in Syria was "coming to a rapid end" but indicated no timetable for a withdrawal.

Days after Trump shocked aides and allies by declaring that the roughly 2,000 troops helping combat the Daesh group would be coming home soon, the White House scotched talk of a precipitous withdrawal.

After a meeting Tuesday between Trump and his national security team, the White House said that the battle against the Daesh group was almost over, but not quite.

"The military mission to eradicate Daesh in Syria is coming to a rapid end, with Daesh being almost completely destroyed."

"The United States and our partners remain committed to eliminating the small Daesh presence in Syria that our forces have not already eradicated."

Estimates about the number of Daesh terrorists remaining around the Syria-Iraq border range from a couple of hundred to the tens of thousands.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders says the administration will continue to consult with allies regarding future plans.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he wants to bring troops home to start rebuilding the U.S.

Trump discussed Syria in a meeting with his national security team on Tuesday.