WASHINGTON (Dispatches) – U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said on Sunday that the United States would not pull its troops out of Syria until its goals were accomplished.
Speaking on Fox News Sunday, Haley listed three aims for the United States: ensuring that chemical weapons are not used in any way that pose a risk to U.S. interests, that Daesh is defeated and that there is a good vantage point to watch what Iran is doing.
It is our goal "to see American troops come home, but we are not going to leave until we know we have accomplished those things,” Haley said.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump's declared "Mission Accomplished” hours after missile strikes on Syria with the help France and the UK, but questions remain unanswered on what was actually the mission and its possible achievement.
The strikes hit three sites -- one in the Syrian capital, Damascus, and two in the city of Homs -- which President Donald Trump claimed were "associated with the chemical weapon capabilities" of the Syrian government.
The aggression, however, was limited to a single night, with U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis saying it was a "one-time shot" to send a strong message to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The Syrian government has rejected claims that it was behind the suspected chemical attack near the capital Damascus on April 7. The attack purportedly took place in the former terrorist-held town of Douma in Eastern Ghouta.
Haley’s warning comes after American, British and French forces fired over one hundred missiles at the Arab country on Saturday.
The American military described that attack as "precision strikes" on three targets in Syria that it falsely claimed to be associated with the country's alleged chemical weapons arsenal, without producing any evidence.
The strike has drawn global outcry since it was carried out before the international chemical weapons watchdog could probe the incident.
The attack also drew immediate and fierce condemnation from Syria as well as China, Russia Iran and Iraq, accusing Washington, London and Paris of deliberately violating international law and blatantly breaching Syria's sovereignty.
In condemning the U.S.-led attack, Assad insisted on Saturday that the missile strikes would only strengthen his nation’s resolve to keep its fight against Western-backed terror groups and "crush terrorism in every inch of the nation.”
The U.S. has reportedly around 2,000 troops stationed in Syria working as "advisers” to U.S.-backed militant groups fighting the Syrian government.