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US troops exiting Syria to stay ‘temporarily’ in Iraq: Pentagon chief

The American troops withdrawing from Syria will stay in Iraq “temporarily” before returning to the United States, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Tuesday.
In an interview with CNN, Esper said the US forces were pulling out in phases, and had now moved from the “immediate zone of attack” to a northeastern corridor out of the country.
“Then we’ll have another phase that will draw all the forces out. We will temporarily position in Iraq before bringing the troops home. They will be coming home,” he said.
Dozens of US armored vehicles arrived on Monday at a base in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Asked about US President Donald Trump’s comment on Monday that a small number of soldiers were being deployed to secure oilfields in Syria, Esper said that was still under discussion.
“But that needs to be worked out in time. The president hasn’t approved that yet,” he said.
“With regard to deployment, my aim is to keep my options open - really, the president’s options open - so if events change on the ground in Syria or other parts that we have the flexibility to respond to the president’s position,” he added.
Esper echoed Trump in defending the abandonment of the Kurdish fighters who bore the brunt of the US-led campaign against ISIS in Syria.
They were forced to flee from cities they controlled in Syria in the face of a Turkish offensive against them.
He said Washington opposed the Turkish invasion, but: “We are not going to war against a NATO ally and certainly not... with regard to a border that we didn’t sign up to defend in the first place.”
The United States currently has 5,200 troops in Iraq, part of a US-led international coalition against ISIS.
Their presence at several bases in Iraq has been the subject of debate there, with pro-Iranian Shia militias and politicians making frequent demands for their withdrawal.
SOURCE : AFP
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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