Senate Hearing on U.S. Strategy in Syria Post-ISIS

• •The hearing took place on January 11, 2018, in the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
• •The Syrian conflict has resulted in over 400,000 deaths and the displacement of 12 million people.
• •The Syrian Democratic Forces, supported by the U.S. and coalition partners, removed ISIS from Raqqa in October 2017.
• •The U.S., Russia, and Jordan signed a memorandum of principles on November 8, 2017, regarding administrative arrangements in southwest Syria.
• •The Assad regime has conducted military attacks in Idlib and Eastern Ghouta, designated as 'de-escalation zones'.
• •Approximately 2,000 U.S. troops are currently deployed in Syria.
• •The Department of Defense did not send a witness to this hearing.
• •Senators raised concerns regarding the legal authorization (AUMF) for U.S. military presence in Syria post-ISIS.
• •The committee discussed the potential for an Iranian 'land bridge' between Tehran and Beirut and its impact on Israeli security.

This hearing addresses the legal and strategic basis for the continued deployment of approximately 2,000 U.S. troops in Syria and the government's approach to regional stability and humanitarian concerns.

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.