WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee issued the following statement after news reports that four Americans were among 19 people killed by an ISIS suicide bomber in northern Syria:

“This attack is a tragic reminder that ISIS is not defeated, despite President Trump’s misstatements. 

“Instead of following the advice of our military and diplomatic experts, President Trump tasked U.S. forces with carrying out a sudden and hasty withdrawal while simultaneously keeping up the fight against ISIS and deterring Turkey from attacking our Syrian Kurdish partners.  That is an incredibly complex, difficult, and dangerous mission.

“Bringing our troops home should always be our goal, but it must be done in a careful and well-thought-out manner.  Contradictory statements by the President, his National Security Advisor, the Secretary of State, and others in recent days have only served to underscore that this decision was anything but thoughtful or deliberate.  Congress, the American people, our partners and allies, and – most importantly – our troops deserve clarity on the Administration’s plan for Syria.”