Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, December 20, 2018
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, December 20, 2018
Germany says US withdrawal from Syria could harm fight against IS
Germany is expressing concern that the US decision to withdraw troops from Syria could undermine efforts to combat the Islamic State group.
Foreign Minister Heiko Maas says in a statement that “the abrupt change of course by the American side comes as a surprise not only for us.” He said that while IS has been pushed back, “the threat is not yet over.”
Maas says “there is a danger that the consequences of this decision could damage the fight against IS and endanger the successes that have been achieved.” He points to “underground structures” and continued activity in eastern Syria.
US officials say that President Donald Trump is pulling all 2,000 US troops out of Syria, as the president suddenly declared victory over IS.
— AP
