USA:  According to General Mark Milley, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, the illegal presence of American troops in Syria will continue. The military contingent will stay in the nation to combat any remaining ISIS fighters, according to the top general.

The administration of President Bashar Assad has repeatedly demanded that Washington withdraw its troops from its territory, claiming that the US military presence there is unlawful.

Milley said, "I can't imagine that the United States would ever withdraw from the Middle East," in an interview with Jordan's Al-Mamlaka TV channel on Thursday. I believe that we will continue to be dedicated for a very long time.

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The general continued by saying that there are still a few isolated ISIS fighters "in and around Syria and around Iraq...and if we were to somehow suddenly withdraw, those forces could reconstruct themselves."

Although the Islamist organisation was largely defeated, the military official claimed that its ideology persisted, necessitating a "level of commitment" from Washington.

When asked if Washington would leave Syria once the terrorist organisation had been completely destroyed, Milley responded that such a decision would be made by US President Joe Biden.

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At the same time, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff noted that the Middle East is "very significant to the United States for a lot of reasons," not the least of which is that it is a "primary source of oil and energy resources." 

Back in July, the Associated Press reported that the US was considering taking military action in response to alleged "increasing Russian aggression" in the skies over Syria, citing an unnamed Pentagon official.

Russian fighter jets, according to US Air Forces Central commander Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, "harassed" American MQ-9 Reaper drones over Syria three times in a week earlier that month.

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Russia has maintained a military presence in Syria ever since Syrian President Bashar Assad invited Moscow to support his forces in the fight against Islamist militants in 2015.

In 2014, the US also began its own bombing campaign against Islamic State militants while supporting numerous armed opposition organisations.