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US Keeping Troops Near Syrian Oil Fields

Ken Bredemeier

   The U.S. is considering keeping some troops near oil fields in
   northeastern Syria to protect them from being captured by Islamic State
   militants, Defense chief Mark Esper said Monday.

   A convoy of more than 100 vehicles with U.S. troops crossed into Iraq
   from Syria on Monday, part of the broader withdrawal from northern
   Syria ordered by President Donald Trump. But Esper said that some
   American forces were still patrolling near the oil fields alongside
   Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.

   The Pentagon leader said no long-term decision has been made "with
   regard to numbers or anything like that" and no plan presented to
   Trump. On Sunday, Trump said on Twitter, "We have secured the oil."

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