Senate OKs bill rebuking Trump's Syria withdrawal plan

By Umar Farooq

WASHINGTON (AA) – The U.S. Senate on Tuesday passed legislation going against President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw troops from Syria.

The bill, titled the Strengthening America’s Security in the Middle East Act, passed with a simple majority of 77-23 and is now on its way to the House of Representatives, where it will be voted on again.

It asks the Trump administration to offer clarifications that the conditions have been met for the defeat of the Daesh terrorist group before the withdrawal of American troops from Syria.

The legislation seeks to introduce additional sanctions on Syria as well as increase support for the U.S.'s military alliance with Israel and Jordan.

In December, Trump announced that the U.S. would be withdrawing all 2,000 of its troops from Syria, saying that Daesh had been defeated in the region.

Sen. Mitch McConnell offered an amendment to the bill, saying the U.S. "faces continuing threats from terrorist groups operating in Syria and Afghanistan" and the withdrawal of forces from either country could put U.S. national security at risk.

The bill also contains legislation that would make it easier for states and local governments to adopt measures to combat the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. The movement targets Israel over its treatment of Palestinians and occupation of Palestinian territories.

Anti-BDS bills have been a cause of splintering within the Democratic Party, with lawmakers such as Rep. Ilhan Omar and Rep. Rashida Tlaib being critical of such legislation popping up in states across the country.

"While I do not support the BDS movement, we must defend every American’s constitutional right to engage in political activity. It is clear to me that this bill would violate Americans’ First Amendment rights,” Sen. Bernie Sanders said on Twitter last week.

While the bill cleared the Senate with little resistance, it will still need to pass through the House and then be signed by Trump before it becomes actual law.