Despite Trump vow, quick US pullout from Syria unlikely

WASHINGTON, Apr 03 (AFP): When President Donald Trump vowed US forces would shortly quit Syria, observers were left wondering if he was signalling an epic policy shift-or whether it was more a case of wishful thinking.

Trump, who campaigned on a pledge of "America First," is said to be frustrated by the open-ended US commitment in Syria, where special operations forces are training and advising Kurdish and Syrian Arab fighters who are battling the Islamic State group.

Now that the jihadists have lost 98 per cent of the ground they once held, according to the Pentagon, Trump last week told supporters it is almost time to bring the 2,000 or so US troops home from Syria.

"We'll be coming out of Syria, like, very soon. Let the other people take care of it now," Trump promised in an address to industrial workers in Ohio.

"We're going to have 100 per cent of the caliphate, as they call it-sometimes referred to as 'land'-taking it all back quickly, quickly," he added.

Analysts were quick to question the consequences of a rapid withdrawal from Syria, and by Monday it was clear that the current Syria policy is not shifting, at least for now.