200 'Peacekeepers' To Remain In Syria, Says White House

The White House has decided to keep about 200 U.S. troops in Syria for an undisclosed period of time, reports the New York Times. 

The move was announced after a phone call on Thursday between President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said the White House. 

The leaders agreed to the continued U.S. presence as both sides work to establish a safe zone along the Syrian-Turkish border. 

It was not immediately clear under whose command the troops would operate or for how long. The U.S. described the troops as "peacekeepers."

The announcement is intended to encourage U.S. allies, particularly Britain and France, to keep forces in Syria while the safe zone is secured, said an administration official. 

The 200 American troops will operate out of northeast Syria and Tanf, in southeastern Syria, said the official. 

The U.S. forces would provide logistics, intelligence and surveillance to partner forces and help direct airstrikes, said the source. Such missions typically have little to do with peacekeeping, noted the Times.

The announcement is a concession to allies and Pentagon officials who have argued against withdrawing all U.S. troops from Syria. Trump previously committed to removing all 2,000 U.S. troops by April.