Defense

GOP senators briefed on administration Syria plan

by Jordain Carney - 10/24/19 4:10 PM ET

A group of GOP senators were briefed at the White House on Thursday about a forthcoming Syria plan from top Pentagon officials.

{mosads}Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told reporters that the GOP senators were briefed in the White House situation room by Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.

“There’s a plan coming together from the joint chiefs that I think may work, that may give us what we need to prevent ISIS from coming back. … I am somewhat encouraged that a plan is coming about that will meet our core objectives in Syria,” Graham told reporters.

Graham indicated that troops were a part of the discussion within the administration, and signaled that the number of troops could be in the hundreds.

“All of that’s being talked about. Is that enough? Well it’s not thousands — is it enough to get the job done?” Graham said, asked how many U.S. troops would be included in the Pentagon’s plan.

He added that he didn’t know if the plan would ultimately be approved by Trump.

Graham did not provide any other details about troops being sent to the Middle East. Pentagon officials told Fox News that the United States is “likely” to send tanks and soldiers into eastern Syria.

Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and David Perdue (R-Ga.) were among the approximately 10 senators who took part in the White House meeting.

Johnson told NBC News that “we were actually pretty encouraged by what progress is being made in Syria, and kind of what the game plan is.”

The White House meeting with GOP senators came as Vice President Pence met in the Capitol with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), GOP Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), former Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), and the top Republican on the Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Mike McCaul of Texas.

The White House has faced weeks of backlash from Capitol Hill over President Trump’s decision to pull troops out of northern Syria, paving the way for Turkey’s invasion.

Republicans fumed, warning that it would empower the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and harm the Kurds, who helped the United States fight ISIS.

Lawmakers are weighing how to respond to Turkey’s actions.

The House previously passed a resolution formally opposing Trump’s decision to pull back U.S. troops and calling on Turkey to end its incursion.

But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has offered his own resolution, which was met with quick opposition from Democrats.

Lawmakers in both parties have also introduced legislation to slap new sanctions on Turkey. The House is expected to vote on a sanctions package as soon as next week.