The truth of US intentions – to remain in Eastern Syria until they are driven out militarily – has now been emphasized by US Defence secretary Mark Esper. At a press conference where he confirmed the US intention to withdraw 1000 troops from Syria, when asked whether this meant from all of Syria he simply repeated what he had said – “from Northern Syria”. As explained here by Syrian American journalist Stephen Sahiounie, this withdrawal has begun in the North West town of Manbij following negotiations between Russian and US militaries, where residents are already celebrating their liberation from US-SDF occupation, as well as protection from a Turkish advance (though this news is disputed by some reports). More significantly it appears that the Syrian Arab Army has now taken control of the key city of Hasakah, the centre of US operations in the North East.