US demands Iranian withdrawal from Syria

Times:
John Bolton demands withdrawal of Iranian troops from Syria

...
Mr Bolton will fly to Geneva to meet his Russian counterpart, Nikolai Patrushev, tomorrow. “We’re going to see what we and others can agree in terms of resolving the conflict in Syria,” he told Reuters. “But the one prerequisite there is the withdrawal of all Iranian forces back in Iran.”
...
The US military and foreign policy establishment regards America’s presence supporting the Kurdish-led militias who control eastern Syria as a bulwark against expanding Iranian influence in the region. The US decision also affects Britain, which has SAS special forces operating alongside US troops in Syria.
...
The Russians and the Iranians have competing interest which might force the Russian hands.  The Russians are apparently eager to leave.  I suspect that is because of their recent cash flow problems caused by the sanctions against Russia.

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