20DEC2018:
Syria conflict: Trump's withdrawal plan shocks allies
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46628811
President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw all US troops from Syria has been met with strong criticism.
Mr Trump made the announcement on Wednesday, asserting that the Islamic State (IS) group had been defeated.
But major allies, including senior Republicans and foreign powers, have disputed the claim and say the move could lead to a resurgence of IS.
US troops have helped rid much of Syria's north-east of the jihadist group, but pockets of fighters remain.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who is one of Mr Trump's supporters, called the withdrawal decision a "huge Obama-like mistake".
And the UK government pushed back on the president's assurance that IS had now been defeated.
The Pentagon said it was transitioning to the "next phase of the campaign" to eliminate IS but did not provide further details.
President Trump, who has long promised to pull American troops out of Syria, said on Twitter that it was time to bring them home after their "historic victories".
The White House would not give a timescale for the withdrawal but defence officials quoted by the New York Times said President Trump wanted it done within 30 days.
What has the reaction been?
Senator Graham, who sits on the armed services committee, warned that the withdrawal would have "devastating consequences" both in Syria and beyond.
He said that he feared it would mean ceding influence in the region to Russia and Iran.
"An American withdrawal at this time would be a big win for ISIS [IS], Iran, Bashar al-Assad of Syria, and Russia," he said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the UK government distanced itself from President Trump's assertion that IS had now been defeated.
"Much remains to be done and we must not lose sight of the threat they pose," a statement from the Foreign Office said.
Israel said it had been told the US had "other ways to have influence in the area" but would "study the timeline [of the withdrawal], how it will be done and of course the implications for us".
Striking a different tone, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the US decision could result in "genuine, real prospects for a political settlement" in Syria.
A spokesman for Kurdish-led authorities in north-eastern Syria, Aldar Xelil, said no-one was yet clear on details of the withdrawal "including US commanders here"
However, the US decision would have an impact on the entire region, he told Ronahi TV.
21DEC2018:
President Trump 'to pull thousands of troops' from Afghanistan
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46643500
The Trump administration is planning to withdraw thousands of troops from Afghanistan, US media say.
Reports, citing unnamed officials, say about 7,000 troops - roughly half the remaining US military presence in the country - could go home within months.
The reports come a day after the president announced the country's military withdrawal from Syria.
Earlier on Thursday, Mr Trump's Defence Secretary Jim Mattis announced his resignation from his post.
Reports about the sharp reduction of forces emerged on Thursday, but have not been confirmed by US defence officials.
Analysts have warned that a withdrawal could have a "devastating" impact and offer Taliban militants a propaganda victory.
A Taliban official told AFP news agency: "Frankly speaking, we weren't expecting that immediate US response... we are more than happy."
The Taliban - a hardline Islamist movement that carries out frequent suicide bombings and attacks against government and military targets - is active in much of Afghanistan.
They ruled Afghanistan from 1996-2001, imposing a brutal version of Sharia law, including public executions and amputations, and banned women from public life.
