{"id":63275,"date":"2018-04-25T01:32:47","date_gmt":"2018-04-25T01:32:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/04\/25\/trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T11:28:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T11:28:16","slug":"trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/25\/trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump backtracks on Syria after talks with French leader"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WASHINGTON \u2014 So much for an abrupt <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/24\/trump-warns-iran-will-pay-if-it-restarts-nuclear-program\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">U.S. pullout from Syria<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One month ago President Donald Trump surprised many, including some in his own administration, by announcing, \u201cWe\u2019ll be coming out of Syria, like, very soon. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/04\/white-house-says-syria-mission-coming-to-a-rapid-end\/\" title=\"\" class=\"selected-link\" target=\"_blank\" data-original-title=\"\" aria-describedby=\"popover107003\">Let the other people take care of it now<\/a>.\u201d He insisted that the time had come for the U.S. military to shift its focus away from Syria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But on Tuesday, it was clear that something or someone had changed Trump\u2019s mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The president said at a White House news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron at his side that before the U.S. withdraws from Syria, \u201cwe want to leave a strong and lasting footprint.\u201d This long-term approach, he added, was \u201ca very big part\u201d of his conversation with Macron, who told reporters that he and Trump now agree that the Syria problem involves more than Trump\u2019s priority of ridding the country of Islamic State extremists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The two leaders indicated that they see Syria as part of a broader problem of instability in the Middle East, which includes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/2017\/09\/27\/iran-points-at-us-and-warns-of-a-new-nuclear-arms-race\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">Iran\u2019s role in Syria and Iraq<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/04\/trump-wants-troops-out-of-syria-but-his-generals-may-resist\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"157\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/3875398.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Trump wants troops out of Syria, but his generals may resist<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The White House pushing for a \u201crapid end\u201d to the mission in Syria, but experts on the region see the Pentagon\u2019s operational momentum as the key hurdle.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That kind of strategic thinking bears little resemblance to Trump\u2019s words in late March when he said it was time to leave Syria to others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe got to get back to our country, where we belong, where we want to be,\u201d he said March 29. His comments raised <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/06\/as-trump-mulls-a-pullout-isis-attempts-to-re-emerge-in-syria\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">questions about U.S. intentions<\/a>, including its commitment to the Syrian Kurds who have been the main U.S. proxy in fighting IS in Syria and who face an uncertain future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since then, Trump has taken a markedly different course, including bombing three suspected chemical weapons sites in western Syria on April 13. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/10\/trump-threatens-syria-strike-cancels-summit-travel\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">In announcing that action<\/a>, Trump said he was committed, along with France and Britain, to using \u201call instruments of our national power \u2014 military, economic and diplomatic\u201d \u2014 to deter Syria from again using chemical weapons. And he said the U.S. would \u201csustain\u201d this effort for as long as it takes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two days later, Macron said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/15\/trump-defends-mission-accomplished-after-strike-on-syria\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">France had persuaded Trump to stay in Syria<\/a> and launch the airstrikes. \u201cTen days ago, President Trump wanted to withdraw from Syria. We convinced him to remain,\u201d the French president said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In responding to Macron\u2019s comments, the White House stressed that Trump\u2019s plans had not changed and he still wanted U.S. forces to \u201ccome home as quickly as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/20\/who-learned-more-from-the-strikes-in-syria-america-or-russia\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-680592096.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Who learned more from the strikes in Syria \u2015 America or Russia?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Russia didn&#039;t engage its S-400 system in Syria, but that was likely by design.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Tuesday Trump seemed to step even further away from his March remarks. After saying he would \u201clove to get out\u201d of Syria, and claiming the U.S. had \u201cdone a big favor\u201d for Iraq and other countries in Syria\u2019s neighborhood by hammering IS, Trump said he and Macron discussed the downside of leaving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEmmanuel and myself have discussed the fact that we don\u2019t want to give Iran open season to the Mediterranean, especially since we really control it,\u201d Trump said. His comment echoed a concern shared by others, including Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, that withdrawing from Syria now, while Syria\u2019s political crisis is unresolved, would <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/2018\/03\/04\/iran-says-will-negotiate-if-west-dismantles-nuclear-arsenal\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">cede ground to Iran<\/a> and enable its ambition to establish an overland pathway to the Mediterranean through Iraq and Syria. Trump stuck to his view that Arab nations should do more to prevent Iran from \u201cprofiting off\u201d the U.S. success against IS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even after Trump\u2019s talk last month of a quick exit, Mattis stuck to his approach, arguing that U.S. strategic goals had not changed. He told a congressional hearing on April 12 that the Trump administration remained committed to finding a political solution to Syria\u2019s seven-year-old civil war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOur strategy remains the same as a year ago,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is to drive this to a U.N.-brokered peace, but, at the same time, keep our foot on the neck of ISIS until we suffocate it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Tuesday, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition fighting IS in Iraq and Syria, Col. Ryan Dillon, told reporters at the Pentagon that the United States is not slowing down in Syria. In fact, he said, the number of U.S. airstrikes against remaining pockets of IS fighters in eastern Syria had increased in the past week.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>So much for an abrupt U.S. pullout from Syria.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":100430,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":13,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[101,13,16,26,65],"tags":[],"coauthors":[2444],"class_list":["post-63275","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-flashpoints","category-news","category-newsletters","category-pentagon-congress"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"P47ANJR665FYNN67APKMU26RBQ","arc_canonical_url":"\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/25\/trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Trump backtracks on Syria after talks with French leader - Air Force TImes<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"So much for an abrupt U.S. pullout from Syria.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Trump backtracks on Syria after talks with French leader\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"So much for an abrupt U.S. pullout from Syria.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/25\/trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Air Force TImes\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-04-25T01:32:47+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-08T11:28:16+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Robert Burns, The Associated Press\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Robert Burns, The Associated Press\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\n\t    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n\t    \"@graph\": [\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Article\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2018\\\/04\\\/25\\\/trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader\\\/#article\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2018\\\/04\\\/25\\\/trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"author\": {\n\t                \"name\": \"migration\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"headline\": \"Trump backtracks on Syria after talks with French leader\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2018-04-25T01:32:47+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-08T11:28:16+00:00\",\n\t            \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2018\\\/04\\\/25\\\/trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"wordCount\": 710,\n\t            \"commentCount\": 0,\n\t            \"publisher\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/#organization\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2018\\\/04\\\/25\\\/trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/AP18114654711421.jpg.jpg\",\n\t            \"articleSection\": [\n\t                \"Daily News Roundup\",\n\t                \"Flashpoints\",\n\t                \"News\",\n\t                \"Newsletters\",\n\t                \"Pentagon &amp; Congress\"\n\t            ],\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"CommentAction\",\n\t                    \"name\": \"Comment\",\n\t                    \"target\": [\n\t                        \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2018\\\/04\\\/25\\\/trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader\\\/#respond\"\n\t                    ]\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2018\\\/04\\\/25\\\/trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader\\\/\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2018\\\/04\\\/25\\\/trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader\\\/\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Trump backtracks on Syria after talks with French leader - Air Force TImes\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/#website\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"primaryImageOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2018\\\/04\\\/25\\\/trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2018\\\/04\\\/25\\\/trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/AP18114654711421.jpg.jpg\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2018-04-25T01:32:47+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-08T11:28:16+00:00\",\n\t            \"description\": \"So much for an abrupt U.S. pullout from Syria.\",\n\t            \"breadcrumb\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2018\\\/04\\\/25\\\/trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader\\\/#breadcrumb\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ReadAction\",\n\t                    \"target\": [\n\t                        \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2018\\\/04\\\/25\\\/trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader\\\/\"\n\t                    ]\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2018\\\/04\\\/25\\\/trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader\\\/#primaryimage\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/AP18114654711421.jpg.jpg\",\n\t            \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/AP18114654711421.jpg.jpg\"\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2018\\\/04\\\/25\\\/trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader\\\/#breadcrumb\",\n\t            \"itemListElement\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 1,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Home\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"home\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 2,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Flashpoints\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"flashpoints\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 3,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Trump backtracks on Syria after talks with French leader\"\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"WebSite\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/#website\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Air Force TImes\",\n\t            \"description\": \"Independent News For Airmen | Air Force Times\",\n\t            \"publisher\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/#organization\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"SearchAction\",\n\t                    \"target\": {\n\t                        \"@type\": \"EntryPoint\",\n\t                        \"urlTemplate\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"\n\t                    },\n\t                    \"query-input\": {\n\t                        \"@type\": \"PropertyValueSpecification\",\n\t                        \"valueRequired\": true,\n\t                        \"valueName\": \"search_term_string\"\n\t                    }\n\t                }\n\t            ],\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\"\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/#organization\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Air Force TImes\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/\",\n\t            \"logo\": {\n\t                \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t                \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\n\t                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/air-logo-white.png\",\n\t                \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/air-logo-white.png\",\n\t                \"caption\": \"Air Force TImes\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"\n\t            }\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Person\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1\",\n\t            \"name\": \"migration\",\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t                \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=gcf4cb6ee0ec29e49e7a963234e4340ec\",\n\t                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\n\t                \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\n\t                \"caption\": \"migration\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/author\\\/migration\\\/\"\n\t        }\n\t    ]\n\t}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Trump backtracks on Syria after talks with French leader - Air Force TImes","description":"So much for an abrupt U.S. pullout from Syria.","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Trump backtracks on Syria after talks with French leader","og_description":"So much for an abrupt U.S. pullout from Syria.","og_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/25\/trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader\/","og_site_name":"Air Force TImes","article_published_time":"2018-04-25T01:32:47+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-08-08T11:28:16+00:00","author":"Robert Burns, The Associated Press","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Robert Burns, The Associated Press","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/25\/trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/25\/trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader\/"},"author":{"name":"migration","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/#\/schema\/person\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1"},"headline":"Trump backtracks on Syria after talks with French leader","datePublished":"2018-04-25T01:32:47+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-08T11:28:16+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/25\/trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader\/"},"wordCount":710,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/25\/trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP18114654711421.jpg.jpg","articleSection":["Daily News Roundup","Flashpoints","News","Newsletters","Pentagon &amp; Congress"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/25\/trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/25\/trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader\/","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/25\/trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader\/","name":"Trump backtracks on Syria after talks with French leader - Air Force TImes","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/25\/trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/25\/trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP18114654711421.jpg.jpg","datePublished":"2018-04-25T01:32:47+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-08T11:28:16+00:00","description":"So much for an abrupt U.S. pullout from Syria.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/25\/trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/25\/trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/25\/trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP18114654711421.jpg.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP18114654711421.jpg.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/25\/trump-backtracks-on-syria-after-talks-with-french-leader\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/","ad_zone":"home"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Flashpoints","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/","ad_zone":"flashpoints"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Trump backtracks on Syria after talks with French leader"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/#website","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/","name":"Air Force TImes","description":"Independent News For Airmen | Air Force Times","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/#organization","name":"Air Force TImes","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/air-logo-white.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/air-logo-white.png","caption":"Air Force TImes"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/#\/schema\/person\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1","name":"migration","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=gcf4cb6ee0ec29e49e7a963234e4340ec","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"migration"},"url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/author\/migration\/"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Air Force TImes","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes","push-errors":false,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP18114654711421.jpg.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63275","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63275"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63275\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":63289,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63275\/revisions\/63289"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63275"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63275"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63275"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=63275"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}