John Bolton puts conditions on Syria withdrawal, suggesting a delay of months or years

The remarks reflected the disarray that has surrounded the president’s decision, which took his staff and foreign allies by surprise and drew objections from the Pentagon that it was logistically impossible and strategically unwise.

Written by David E. Sanger, Noah Weiland and Eric Schmitt

President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, John Bolton, rolled back Sunday Trump’s decision to rapidly withdraw from Syria, laying out conditions for a pullout that could leave U.S. forces there for months or even years.

Bolton, making a visit to Israel, told reporters that U.S. forces would remain in Syria until the last remnants of the Islamic State group were defeated and Turkey provided guarantees that it would not strike Kurdish forces allied with the United States. He and other top White House advisers have led a behind-the-scenes effort to slow Trump’s order and reassure allies, including Israel.

“We don’t think the Turks ought to undertake military action that’s not fully coordinated with and agreed to by the United States, at a minimum so they don’t endanger our troops,” Bolton said in Jerusalem, where he was traveling before a visit Tuesday to Turkey.

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Dismissed U.S. defense chief signs Syria withdrawal order

The Defense Department on Monday confirmed that outgoing Secretary James Mattis followed through on an order withdrawing U.S. forces from Syria, a decision by President Donald Trump that triggered Mattis's resignation last week.