The US military is not planning to leave Syria until the Syrian settlement process in Geneva brings a diplomatic solution, said US Secretary of Defense James Mattis who came together with journalists in the US Department of Defense (Pentagon) in the press office.

On a question of journalists, whether there is a legitimate reason for the US for placing their troops on Syria after Daesh, Mattis replied: "We are not just going to walk away right now before the Geneva process has traction. We're going to make sure we set the conditions for a diplomatic solution."

“The enemy hasn’t declared that they’re done with the area yet, so we’ll keep fighting as long as they want to fight,” Mattis said, speaking to reporters at the Pentagon about the future of U.S. operations in Syria. He also stressed the importance of longer-term peace efforts, suggesting U.S. forces aimed to help set the conditions of a diplomatic solution in Syria.

ILKHA