Washington, December 20 (RHC)-- U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the withdrawal of all 2,000 U.S. troops in Syria, in a move that surprised many in Washington and around the world.

Trump ordered the withdrawal despite opposition from within the White House.  In September, Trump’s national security adviser, John Bolton, had said U.S. troops would stay in Syria until Iranian troops and its proxy forces leave. 

While Trump claims ISIS has been defeated, a report by the United Nations in August found that up to 30,000 ISIS fighters remain in Iraq and Syria. President Trump’s move has been praised by some in the American peace movement and some progressive lawmakers, as well as anti-interventionist Republicans, including Senators Rand Paul and Mike Lee.  But other Republican lawmakers have openly criticized Trump, including Senator Lindsey Graham.