Top general says he wasn’t consulted before Trump announced Syria withdrawal

The top U.S. general in charge of military operations in the Middle East on Tuesday said he was not consulted prior to President Trump‘s announcement that he would withdraw all 2,000 U.S. troops from Syria.

“I was not aware of the specific announcement,” U.S. Central Command (Centcom) Commander Gen. Joseph Votel said while appearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee. “Certainly we are aware that he has expressed a desire and an intent in the past to depart Syria.”

Pressed further by Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) on whether he was consulted ahead of Trump’s December announcement, Votel replied, “I was not consulted.”

View the complete February 5 article by Rebecca Kheel on The Hill website here.