Congressman submits resolution urging US pullout from Syria

The US far-right republican Matt Gaetz is calling for an end to the US military mission in Syria after four troops and a working dog were injured during a raid to take out a senior ISIS figure last week.

Despite US forces having killed two terror leaders and captured another in recent days, Gaetz introduced a bill on February 21 that would use the War Powers Act to direct President Biden to withdraw all service members from the war-torn Middle Eastern country, New York Post reports.

“Congress has never authorized the use of military force in Syria. The United States is currently not in a war with or against Syria, so why are we conducting dangerous military operations there?” New York Post quotes Gaetz as saying on February 22.

“America First means actually putting the people of our country first — not the interests of the Military Industrial Complex,” Gaetz added.

The recent spate of US military activity in Syria began with two separate raids on February 16 that led to the deaths of senior ISIS leader Hamza al-Homsi and an unidentified assassination cell leader, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on February 17.

Four US commandos and their working dog were hurt when al-Homsi, who oversaw the group’s activities in Syria, detonated an explosive vest as the Americans closed in and attempted to capture him alive.

Two days later, on February 18, American troops captured a top ISIS leader known only as “Batar,” who was “involved in planning attacks on [Syrian]-guarded detention centres and manufacturing improvised explosive devices,” according to CENTCOM.

By invoking the War Powers Act in his legislation, Gaetz has effectively forced Congress to take up a vote on the matter by mid-March. The law, intended to provide checks on the president’s power to send the military into conflict without congressional approval, requires Congress to consider such resolutions within 18 days of their introduction.

If passed, the legislation would require Biden to withdraw all US troops from Syria no later than 15 days after Congress’ decision.