Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Sunday, February 17, 2019
From the Liveblog of
Sunday, February 17, 2019
Assad: US-backed forces in Syria ‘shouldn’t bet on’ American protection
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSyrian President Bashar Assad says only the Syrian army can protect groups in northern Syria.
In a speech in the Syrian capital Damascus, he appears to be referring to US-allied Kurdish groups, which fear a Turkish assault once American troops withdraw from northeastern Syria.
Assad says any foreign troops in Syria will be dealt with as occupation forces.
He doesn’t specifically mention the planned withdrawal of 2,000 American troops from northern Syria but says that “no one should bet on protection from the Americans.” He suggests the Syrian army will return to the area after the American troop pullout.
“Every inch of Syria will be liberated, and any intruder is an enemy,” he said.
— AP
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