The Trump Administration’s Syria Policy: Perspectives from the Field

CHAIRMAN LYNCH'S OPENING STATEMENT

PURPOSE

The hearing will examine President Trump’s decision to remove U.S. forces from Syria and the resulting consequences for U.S. national security.  The hearing will also address the humanitarian crisis resulting from Turkey’s invasion of northern Syria.

BACKGROUND

On October 6, 2019, after speaking with Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President Trump announced that a Turkish incursion into northeast Syria was imminent and that U.S. forces would not be involved in that operation. Shortly thereafter, Turkey launched an operation into northern Syria to clear Kurdish forces from its southern border. On October 13, Secretary of Defense Esper announced that President Trump had ordered the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria.