Damascus demands the US withdraw from Syria
Damascus stated that the US must withdraw from Syria. “Presence of the US in Syria is illegal. The Americans must leave the military base that they established in the town of al-Tanf,” stated the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Syria, Walid Muallem, at a press conference in Damascus, Mehr News Agency reports.
"Do not believe the statements about the security agreement in southern Syria until the United States withdraws its troops from the al-Tanf," the minister said.
Muallem thanked Iran for the support provided to Syria. "Since the beginning of the [political] crisis, Iran has supported Syria in the fight against terrorism. There is no Iranian military presence in the Syrian territories — rather, there are advisers who work alongside the Syrian government's army, " the minister added.
On May 27, Asharq Al-Awsat news agency reported, citing its sources, that the Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs, David Satterfield, is planning to discuss the possibility of removing the U.S. military base in Al-Tanf.
Satterfield is reportedly working on a proposal for the withdrawal of Syrian and other militias by 20 – 25 km from the Jordanian border. The proposal includes moving the representatives of the opposition and their families to Idlib, resumption of the border crossing between Syria and Jordan and establishing of the American-Russian mechanism for monitoring the implementation of the agreement.
Earlier, the Pentagon warned Assad forces against attacking the US-Led coalition in Syria.
The US has warned that it will take “firm and appropriate measures” to enforce the ceasefire agreement in southern Syria if Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sends his troops against the opposition who are based in the southern part of Syria.