US President Donald Trump says his decision to pull American troops out of Syria should not have surprised anyone because he campaigned against US involvement in never-ending wars.
The president's decision to withdraw US forces, announced on December 19, surprised top administration officials and allies whose troops are fighting alongside US in a coalition to defeat the Islamic State terrorist group.
The move resulted in the resignation of US Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis.
Trump complained on Twitter about criticism he has faced since making the decision, saying any other leader would be considered a "national hero" for doing what he did.
In a series of tweets on Monday, the president said he was the only person in the United States who could bring US troops home with victory and still be subjected to negative reporting.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"It is Fake News and Pundits who have FAILED for years that are doing the complaining. If I stayed in Endless Wars forever, they would still be unhappy!" Trump said.
Islamic State, or ISIS, is "mostly gone", he said, and the US is slowly pulling out, "while at the same time fighting ISIS remnants".
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a critic of Trump's decision on Syria, said on Sunday the president had been thinking "long and hard about Syria" and how to withdraw US forces while maintaining national security interests.
Graham said Trump reassured him of the US commitment to defeat Islamic State.
