Withdrawal of US forces in Syria in weeks

The top US commander overseeing American forces in the Middle East says the US will probably start withdrawing troops from Syria within weeks.

The United States is likely just weeks away from starting the withdrawal of ground troops from Syria ordered by President Donald Trump, the top US commander overseeing American forces in the Middle East says.

US Army General Joseph Votel also said on Sunday he believed troop levels in Iraq would remain broadly steady.

"We don't want to keep people on the ground that we don't need and (who) don't have a valid mission," he said.