US lawmaker adds amendment to defense bill mandating removal of troops from Syria

By Kasim Ileri

WASHINGTON (AA) - US congressman Jamaal Bowman added an amendment to the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which seeks to prevent US military presence in Syria without congressional approval.

"None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available to the Department of Defense may be used to maintain a United States military presence inside Syria after the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, unless there is enacted specific statutory authorization for such military presence in accordance with the requirements of the 10 War Powers Resolution," according to the amendment by the New York Democratic lawmaker.

A separate amendment by Bowman requires public disclosure about the cost of the US overseas military footprint.

There were more than 1,200 amendments being weighed by the rules committee and late Tuesday the panel completed its review, finalizing 650.

- Amendment on Iran-backed militia

Another amendment by a Republican representative has been approved, requesting a ban on funds distributed to Iran-backed militia groups in Iraq.

The amendment by Joe Wilson from South Carolina, "prohibits defense appropriations from being distributed directly or indirectly to the Badr Organization in Iraq."

"None of the amounts authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available to the Department of Defense may be made available, directly or indirectly, to the Badr Organization," it said.

- Amendment targeting Türkiye's purchase of F-16 jets

Greek-American congressman Chris Pappas added an amendment targeting the US sale of F-16 jets to Türkiye.

The Democrat lawmaker from New Hampshire introduced two amendments on the sale of the fighter jets to Ankara but withdrew one and revised the other.

His amendment "prohibits the President from selling or exporting new F-16s or F-16 upgrade technology or modernization kits to Turkey unless the President provides a certification to Congress that such a transfer is in the national interest of the United States and includes a detailed description of concrete steps taken to ensure that such F-16s are not used by Turkey for repeated unauthorized territorial overflights of Greece."

The NDAA now heads to pertinent committees for further discussions.

*Servet Gunerigok contributed to the story