US may now keep some troops in Syria to guard oil fields

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The U.S. may leave some forces in Syria to secure oil fields and make sure they don't fall into the hands of a resurgent Islamic State, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Monday, even though President Donald Trump has insisted he is pulling troops out of the country and getting out...

The Latest: Trump says Israel, Jordan want troops in Syria

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Latest on the United States and Syria (all times local): 12:30 p.m. President Donald Trump says he still wants to get all U.S. troops out of Syria, but Israel and Jordan have asked him to keep some in Syria. Just last week, Trump said the roughly 1,000 American troops in...

US may now keep some troops in Syria to guard oil fields

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Even as American forces make a hasty and chaotic withdrawal from northeastern Syria, the U.S. is considering leaving some troops behind to secure oil fields in the region and make sure they don't fall into the hands of a resurgent Islamic State, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said...

AP FACT CHECK: Trump exaggerates scope of cease-fire deal

WASHINGTON (AP) — As President Donald Trump describes it, the U.S. swooped into an intractable situation in the Middle East, achieved an agreement within hours that had eluded the world for years and delivered a "great day for civilization." It was a mission-accomplished moment that other Republican...

New York Medal of Honor recipient won't run for Congress

NEW YORK (AP) — Medal of Honor recipient David Bellavia (bell-uh-VEEH-uh) says he will not run for the 27th Congressional District seat recently vacated by Chris Collins. In a statement Sunday, Bellavia said he has "a new responsibility to the U.S. Army." He said he plans on "traveling the country, as an...

Defense chief: US troops leaving Syria to go to western Iraq

ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT (AP) — Defense Secretary Mark Esper says that under the current plan all U.S. troops leaving Syria will go to western Iraq and the military will continue to conduct operations against the Islamic State group to prevent its resurgence. Speaking to reporters traveling with him...

AP FACT CHECK: Trump's Syrian mission-accomplished moment

WASHINGTON (AP) — As President Donald Trump describes it, the U.S. swooped into an intractable situation in the Middle East, achieved an agreement within hours that had eluded the world for years and delivered a "great day for civilization." It was a mission-accomplished moment that other Republican...

Defense chief says under current plan all U.S. forces leaving Syria will go to western Iraq

Millions march in Iraq in annual Arbaeen Shiite pilgrimage

KARBALA, Iraq (AP) — Millions of pilgrims made their way on foot to the Iraqi city of Karbala on Saturday for the Shiite pilgrimage of Arbaeen, regarded as the largest annual public gathering in the world. The commemoration marks the 40th day following the death of a Shiite saint in the 7th century and...

'Only God is with us': A Syrian family feels betrayed by US

BARDARASH, Iraq (AP) — For months, every time Turkey threatened to invade northern Syria, Salwa Hanna told her husband they should take their children and flee from the border town of Kobani. And every time, he told her not to worry, because the Americans were there. Now the Christian family is among an...