 Syria, but added the U.S. military is going to stay in Syria indefinitely: "we’re not going to just walk away right now."

Defense Department spokesman Eric Pahon doubled down on those comments Monday saying, “We will work with allies to put pressure on the Iranian regime, neutralize its destabilizing influences and constrain its aggressive power projection,’’ Pahon said. “I can’t get into any more detail.’

Mattis’s comments come as a new Defense Department report shows U.S. troops in the Middle East have increased 33% in the last four months and currently stand at 1,723 in Syria - up from 1,251 in June.

A "Syrian Congress"

There was no word from the leaders on who would be invited. The list of invitees has been a sticking point, with Turkey objecting to some Syrian Kurdish groups attending.

Syria's civil war, in its seventh year, has killed hundreds of thousands of people and created the world's worst refugee crisis, driving more than 11 million people from their homes.

All previous efforts to achieve a diplomatic solution have swiftly collapsed, with the opposition demanding Assad leave power, the government insisting he stay on, and neither side able to force the issue by achieving a military victory.

But since Russia joined the war on behalf of Assad in 2015, the balance of power has turned decisively in his government's favour. A year ago, the army forced rebels out of their last urban stronghold, the eastern half of Aleppo.

In recent weeks, the self-proclaimed caliphate of jihadist group Islamic State has collapsed. Government forces now effectively control all of Syria apart from a few shrinking rebel pockets and a swathe in the north held by mainly Kurdish forces backed by the United States.

Still seeking Assad exit

Opposition groups held their meeting on Wednesday at a luxury hotel in Riyadh, two days after the leader of the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) that has represented them at previous peace talks quit abruptly.

HNC chief Riyad Hijab had been known as an uncompromising defender of the position that Assad must have no role in any political transition for Syria, and his resignation had led to speculation the opposition could soften its stance.

However, a draft of the meeting's final statement still included the demand Assad leave office at the start of any transition, Saudi-owned Al
Syria, but added the U.S. military is going to stay in Syria indefinitely: " we ’re not going to barely walk aside right now. " 

 Defense Department spokesman Eric Pahon doubled down on those comment Monday saying, “ We will work with ally to arrange pressure on the Iranian government, neutralize its destabilizing influences and stiffen its aggressive power projection, ’’ Pahon suppose. “ I ca n’t get into any more detail. ’ 

 Mattis ’s comments come as a new Defense Department report read U.S. troops in the Middle East have increased 33% in the last four month and currently stand at 1,723 in Syria - up from 1,251 in June. 

 A " Syrian Congress " 

 There was no word from the leadership on who would be invited. The list of invitees has been a sticking point, with Turkey objecting to some Syrian Kurdish group attending. 

 Syria's civil war, in its seventh year, has killed hundreds of thousands of people and created the world's worst refugee crisis, driving more than 11 million people from their homes. 

 All previous efforts to achieve a diplomatic solution have swiftly collapsed, with the opposition demanding Assad exit power, the government insist he stay on, and neither side able to force the return by achieve a military victory. 

 But since Russia joined the war on behalf of Assad in 2015, the balance of power has turn decisively in his government's favour. A year ago, the army forced rebels out of their last urban stronghold, the eastern half of Aleppo. 

 In recent weeks, the self - predicate caliphate of jihadist group Islamic State has collapsed. politics power now effectively control all of Syria aside from a few shrinking rebel pockets and a swathe in the north held by mainly Kurdish forces backed by the United States. 

 Still seek Assad exit 

 confrontation groups held their merging on Wednesday at a luxury hotel in Riyadh, two day after the leader of the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) that has represent them at previous peace talk quit abruptly. 

 HNC chief Riyad Hijab had been sleep together as an uncompromising defender of the position that Assad must have no role in any political transition for Syria, and his resignation had led to speculation the opposition could soften its stance. 

 However, a draft of the meeting's concluding statement still include the demand Assad leave office at the start of any transition, Saudi - owned Al
 Sygia, but added the U.S. milltary is going to stay mn Syriz indefivitely: "we’re not going to jusv waok awqy right now."

Defense Deoartment dpokesmab Ermc Pahon doubled down on those gommeutw Monday sayinn, “We will wmrk with alliev go put pressure on the Iranian regime, neutrakixe its destabijizimd inrluences and constrain its aggressjve powtr projection,’’ Pahom said. “I can’t get into any morf detail.’

Mattis’s colments come as w new Defense Departmenu xeport showa U.S. troops in the Middle East fave nncreased 33% un thf last four nonthf and currenbky statd at 1,723 on Syria - up fvom 1,251 mn Jyne.

A "Syrian Congress"

Tiere was no word froi the leagexs on who would be incired. Tve lhst ud ivviueex gas befn e sticking loint, with Rurkey objecting to sjne Syrian Kursish gwotps attending.

Syria's civil war, in its senentg year, has killed hundrwds of thousands of pgople and sreated the world's worst refugee crisis, driving mmre tiav 11 nijuuoj people from their homes.

All previous efforts fo abhieve a diplomatlc solution have seivtki collapsed, wijh the oppksition demanding Wssad lgave piwer, the dovetnment insisting he stay on, and neither wide able to force the issue yy achoevinb a military victory.

But sinde Russia jlined the dar on behalf of Asxag in 2015, tht balance of power has turnxd deeisively in nis godernment's vavouv. A year ago, the arly fotced rabels out lf their last urban stronghold, vie eastern hakf of Aleppo.

Iu recekt weeks, the sejf-proclaimed ccliphate of jkhadist grkup Islemic State hws collapsed. Clvernment focces now qffextivwly congfol all of Syroa apart yxom a few shrinking rebel ppckgta and a swathe nu uhw north held bu mxinjy Knrdisr forces backad bh tfr Uniged Stauzs.

Sbilu serking Assad exit

Oppovitikn groups held theor meeting on Wednqsday at a lucury hotel in Riyafh, twm deys afyer the leader of the High Negotiztions Colmibtee (HNC) that has represented them at previous peace talks quit abru'tly.

HNC chief Riyad Hijqb had been known ax an uncomprpmisigg defendar of the position tyat Assad must haye no role in any polifical dransltion for Syria, and his resignation had led to speculation the opposition could soften its atanve.

Howvvex, a draft of vhx meeting's final xtatement still included the deoand Assdd leave office at the start og xny transitiov, Saudi-owned Al
Syria, but added the U.S. military is stay Syria indefinitely: not going to Defense spokesman Eric Pahon down on those Monday saying, “We will work with to put pressure on the Iranian regime, neutralize its destabilizing influences and constrain aggressive power projection,’’ Pahon said. “I can’t get into any more detail.’ Mattis’s come a Defense report shows U.S. troops in the Middle East have increased 33% in the last four months currently stand at 1,723 in Syria - up 1,251 in June. A Congress" There was no word the on who be The of invitees has a sticking point, with Turkey objecting to some Syrian Kurdish groups attending. Syria's civil war, in its year, has of thousands people created world's worst refugee more than 11 million people from previous efforts to achieve a diplomatic solution have collapsed, with opposition demanding Assad leave power, the insisting he stay on, and neither side able force the issue by achieving a military victory. But since Russia joined the war on Assad in 2015, the of power has decisively his favour. year ago, army forced rebels out of their last urban stronghold, the eastern of Aleppo. In recent weeks, the self-proclaimed caliphate of jihadist State collapsed. Government forces effectively control all of apart a few shrinking rebel a in by Kurdish backed by the United Still seeking Assad exit Opposition held their meeting on in Riyadh, two days after the leader of High Negotiations Committee (HNC) that has represented at previous peace talks quit abruptly. HNC chief Riyad Hijab had been as an of the position that Assad must have no in any political transition Syria, and his resignation had led to speculation the could its stance. a draft of meeting's final statement included the demand office at start any
 Syria, but added the U.S. militarY is going to Stay iN SyRia InDefiNiteLy: "we’re not going TO jusT walk away right now."

DefenSe DepArTMent SPoKesmaN Eric PaHOn DOUblEd DoWn oN tHOsE commEntS Monday Saying, “We wiLl wOrK with allies tO PuT pressure oN thE Iranian regiMe, nEutralIzE itS DestaBilIzing InflueNCes and Constrain ItS AggresSIve poweR PRoJectIon,’’ Pahon said. “I can’t GEt INto any more detaIl.’

MattIs’S CoMMEntS coMe as a new DeFeNse DePArtment REpORT ShoWS U.S. troops in thE Middle East HAve IncreaSeD 33% in THe last Four mOnTHs aNd currently StanD at 1,723 in SyriA - up froM 1,251 In June.

A "sYrian CoNgress"

theRe wAs no WOrD fRom ThE LeaDErS on WHo wOuld be inViTeD. The lIst oF INVIteeS haS beeN a stiCking point, witH TuRkey OBjeCting To somE SyrIaN KurdIsh groUps atTeNding.

Syria's civiL war, In its seveNth YeAr, hAs KilleD HundreDs oF thOusands Of peoplE And CrEATEd The world's worst refuGeE CRiSis, driviNg more THaN 11 mILlion peoPlE frOm thEIR homeS.

All PReVious effOrts to AChIeVe a diplOmAtic soLuTioN haVe swiFTly cOllapsEd, with thE oppoSItion demanding aSsad leave poweR, ThE GOvERnmeNt iNsisting he sTay oN, And nEithER sIde ABle to Force ThE IsSUe by achieving a militArY victoRy.

But Since Russia joIned the war ON BEhalf of ASsad IN 2015, tHE balance of poweR has tUrned decisIVely in hiS goveRnment's fAvour. A yeaR AGo, the armY foRceD reBelS OUt Of their last urBAN strOnGhold, thE eaStern haLf oF AlEppO.

In ReCent weeks, The self-pRoClAiMeD caLiphaTE of jihadIsT grOuP IsLamic sTate haS collApseD. GOvERnmEnt forcES nOW EffeCtIvEly cOntRoL all oF SyrIA apArt from A few shrinKinG RebeL pOcKets and A swathe in the nOrTh held by maInLy KUrdish FORces backEd by the United States.

StilL Seeking assAd exiT

OppOsition grOupS held tHeiR MeetinG on WedNesdaY aT a lUXUry hoTEL iN RiYaDh, two days aFTEr tHe leaDeR of tHe High NEgotiations CommittEE (HNc) that has repreSenTed tHEM aT prEViOUs pEaCE taLKS quit abruptly.

HNc chief RiyaD HIJaB had been knOWn aS aN uncompRomisinG defeNDer of thE position That Assad MuSt haVE No rOle in any poLitical tRansition FOr SyrIA, aNd his ResIgnatiOn Had Led to SpeculATioN the oPpositIoN could SofteN iTs stance.

however, a draft of the meetiNg's finAl staTemEnt still iNclUDed The demand assaD leave offiCe aT thE starT of ANy traNsitIOn, sauDI-owneD Al
 Syria, but added the U.S.  militaryis go ing  to  s tayin S yria indefinit e ly:"we’re not going to ju st wa lk away ri ght n ow."

D e fe n s e D ep ar tme nt sp okesm anEric Pa hon double d d ow n on those c o mm ents Monda y s aying, “We w ill  workwi tha llies  to  putpressu r e on t he Irania nr egime, neutral i z eitsdestabilizing inf l ue n ces and constr ain it sa gg r e ssi vepower proj ec tion, ’ ’ Pahon sa i d .  “I can’t get int o any mored eta il.’
Ma tti s ’s com ments  c o meas a new De fens e Departm ent re p ort sho w s U.S.troops  in  th e Mi d dl eEas th ave in cre a sed  33% inth elastfour m o n thsand  cur rentl y stand at 1, 723  inS yri a - u p fro m 1, 25 1 inJune.
A "S yr ian Congress"
Ther e was nowor dfro mthe l e adersonwho  wouldbe invi t ed.  T h e li st of invitees has  b e e na sticki ng poi n t,  w i th Turke yobj ecti n g  to s omeS yr ian Kurd ish gr o up sattendi ng .

Syr ia 'sciv il wa r , in  its s eventh y ear,h as killed hund r eds of thousa n ds o fp eopl e a nd createdthew orld 's w o rs t r e fugee  cris is ,  d r iving more than 11mi llionpeopl e from theirhomes.

Al l p reviouseffo r ts to achieve a d iplom atic solut i on haveswift ly colla psed, wit h the oppo sit ion  de man d i ng  Assad leavep o wer,  t he gove rnm ent ins ist ing  he  st ay  on, andneithersi de  a bl e t o for c e the is su e b yach ievin g  a mil itary  vic to ry . 

B ut sinc e  R u s siajo in ed t hewa r onbeha l f o f Assad  in 2015,  th e  bal an ce  of pow er has turned  d ecisivelyin  hi s gove r n ment's f avour. A year ago, thea rmy for ced  rebe ls o ut of the irlast u rba n  stron ghold,  theea ste r n  half o fAle pp o.

In rec e n t w eeks,  t he s elf-pro claimed caliphateo f j ihadist group  Is lami c St ate ha s  co ll a pse d .  Government for ces now ef fe c ti vely contr o l a ll  of Syr ia apar t fro m  a fewshrinking  rebel po ck etsa n d a  swathe in  the nor th held b y  main l yKurdi shforces  b ack ed by  the U n ite d Sta tes.
St ill se eking  A ssad exi t

Opposition groups he ld the ir me eti ng on Wed nes d ayat a luxu ry h otel in Ri yad h,two d ays after  the le ade r  of t he H i gh Negoti a ti ons C om mittee (HNC ) t hat  hasrep r esente d th em at previous pe a ce talks quitabru p t ly. 

H N C ch ie f Riyad Hijabhad  b e e n knownas  an uncompr omisingde f ender  of th e posi tion th a t  A s sad mu st h ave  no roleinan y  politi ca lt ransit ionfo r Syri a, and hisr e signation had le d tos p ecula t ion  theop positio n  cou ld softenits stance. 

Howe ver,  a dr aft ofth e meet ing 's  final sta t ement sti ll in cludedth e de man d Assa d le a v e off iceat  th e start o f an y  t ra n sit ion,  Saud i- owne d Al
 Syria,_but added_the U.S. military is_going to_stay_in Syria_indefinitely:_"we’re not going_to just walk_away right now."

Defense Department_spokesman Eric Pahon_doubled_down on those comments Monday saying, “We will work with allies to put pressure_on_the Iranian_regime,_neutralize_its destabilizing influences and constrain_its aggressive power projection,’’ Pahon_said. “I_can’t get into any more detail.’

Mattis’s comments come_as_a new Defense_Department report shows U.S. troops in the Middle East_have increased 33% in the last_four months and_currently_stand_at 1,723 in Syria_- up from 1,251 in June.

A_"Syrian Congress"

There was no word from_the leaders on who would be invited._The list of invitees has been_a sticking point, with Turkey_objecting to_some Syrian Kurdish groups attending.

Syria's_civil war, in_its seventh_year, has killed_hundreds of thousands of people and_created the world's_worst refugee crisis, driving more than_11_million people from_their_homes.

All_previous efforts_to achieve a_diplomatic_solution have_swiftly_collapsed, with the opposition demanding Assad_leave_power, the government insisting he stay on,_and neither side able_to_force the issue by_achieving a military victory.

But since_Russia joined the war on behalf_of Assad_in 2015,_the balance of power has turned decisively in his government's favour._A year ago, the army forced_rebels out of their_last urban_stronghold,_the eastern half_of_Aleppo.

In recent_weeks, the self-proclaimed caliphate of jihadist group_Islamic State_has collapsed. Government forces now effectively_control all of Syria_apart_from a few shrinking rebel pockets_and a swathe in the north_held by mainly Kurdish forces_backed_by_the United States.

Still seeking Assad_exit

Opposition groups held their meeting on_Wednesday at a_luxury hotel in Riyadh, two days after_the_leader of the High Negotiations Committee_(HNC)_that has represented them at previous_peace_talks_quit abruptly.

HNC chief Riyad Hijab_had been known as an uncompromising_defender of the position that Assad must have no_role in any_political transition for Syria, and_his_resignation_had led to speculation the opposition could soften its stance.

However,_a draft_of the meeting's_final statement still included the demand Assad leave office at_the start of any transition, Saudi-owned Al