(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) Newdesk MIL-US-SYRIA Mattis says goal is to move Syria civil war into Geneva Process WASHINGTON, Aug 28 (KUNA) -- US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis reiterated that "our problem is not with Iran; it's with the Iranian regime leadership, not the Iranian people." Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, Mattis said "as far as whether or not Russia has the traction, has the persuasiveness to get Iran out of Syria, you have to look at that question. What are they doing in Syria in the first place, other than propping up someone who has committed mayhem and murder on his own people? "They have no business there. And our goal is to move the Syria civil war into the Geneva process so the Syrian people can establish a new government that is not led by (President Bashar) Assad and give them a chance for a future that Assad has denied them, with overt Russian and Iranian support," he stressed.
He added "so we're asking for Russia to do what is the right thing in this case." On the use of the chemical weapons in Syria, he noted "you have seen our administration act twice on the use of chemical weapons. I will assure you that Department of State has been in recent active communication with Russia to enlist them in preventing this." As for the withdrawal of the 2,000 US troops from Syria, Mattis gave three points in this regard, saying "one, we have to destroy (IS)," saying that President Donald Trump has been "very clear that IS is to be taken out, so that's got to happen." He added "we also have to have trained local troops who can take over. We're doing that training as we speak. As we uncover ground, the chairman's got people assigned there specifically to train the locals." "And third, we need the Geneva process, the UN-recognized process to start making traction towards solving this war," he stressed.
He said "if the locals are able to keep the security, obviously during this time we might be reducing our troops commensurate with their ability to deny IS a return, but it really comes down to finding a way to solve this problem of Assad's making." In April, Trump said he "would love to get out" of Syria but Iran should be prevented from profiting off success against IS, and that he wanted US forces to return home but after leaving "a strong and lasting footprint" in Syria. (end) si.bs
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