Regarding US presence in Syria, Gen Joseph L. Votel, commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), said, "There are still areas where the Daesh operates in Syria, so we should not stop our operations."

Votel said in a live broadcast that they almost solved the problem of Daesh in Iraq and Syria. Gen Votel said that while 90 percent of Daesh-held territory had been liberated, the situation had grown more complex, especially in Syria. He blamed Turkiye's operation against Afrin, northern Syria, for "slowing down the operations against Daesh".

Votel stated that the USA's principal partner in the field is also YPG.

ILKHA