Ignoring advice from his generals and advisers, Trump said that the U.S. would leave Syria.

川普枉顧來自將軍和顧問的建議，揚言美國會撤離敘利亞。

Defense Department officials said that they were ordered to do it within 30 days.

國防部官員表示，他們被下令在 30 天內完成撤離。

[explosion]

[爆炸]

Then came a flurry of criticism, even from inside his own party.

然後刮起了輿論的旋風，甚至是來自他的黨內。

"I believe it is a catastrophic mistake."

「我相信這是個災難性的錯誤。」

"This is very disappointing."

「令人失望透頂。」

"It needs to be reconsidered."

「需要再多加思考。」

Then, the resignations.

然後迎來了請辭。

First, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis quit.

首先是國防部長 Jim Mattis 辭退。

And America's chief diplomat in the fight against ISIS, Brett McGurk, soon followed.

專任對抗 ISIS 的美國主外交官 Brett McGurk 也隨即請辭。

But now, the timeline is unclear.

但現在一切規劃都模糊了。

"I never said we're doing it that quickly."

「我從沒說過我們要這麼趕著撤退。」

He went on to say that the U.S. will leave at a proper pace while continuing to fight ISIS, a shift from — “They're all coming back, and they're coming back now.”

他接著說美國將會在以適當的步伐撤離，同時持續對抗 ISIS，原先說法則是——「他們全都要回來，而且現在就要回來。」

The nearly eight-year-long war in Syria has left hundreds of thousands of people dead.

這場在敘利亞持續近八年的戰爭造成了數十萬傷亡。

[explosion]

[爆炸]

So, how did we get here and what are U.S. forces doing in Syria?

所以，這一路是怎麼過來的？美國在敘利亞又在做些什麼？

In 2011, uprisings rippled through the Middle East.

在 2011 年，中東境內發生一波波起義。

Leaders fell in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt.

突尼西亞、利比亞和埃及的領導人紛紛垮臺。

And after months of anti-government protests in Syria, the U.S. had a message for President Bashar al-Assad: "This morning, President Obama called on Assad to step aside."

在敘利亞的反政府抗議行動持續數月後，美國傳了一則訊息給敘利亞總統巴沙爾．阿薩德 : 「今早，總統歐巴馬請阿薩德請辭。」

He didn't and the conflict escalated.

他並沒有下台，衝突也越演越烈。

In 2012, Obama warned Assad against using Syria's stockpile of chemical weapons against his own people.

在 2012 年，歐巴馬告誡阿薩德不應該將敘利亞持有的化學武器對準他的國民。

"That's a red line for us, and that there would be enormous consequences if we start seeing the use of chemical weapons."

「這是我們的底線，如果我們還繼續看到他們使用化學武器，他們將面臨龐大的後果。」

A year later, Assad's army launched a chemical attack on a Damascus suburb, killing 1,400 people.

隔年，阿薩德的軍隊對大馬士革的郊區進行化學攻擊，殺害了 1400 位人民。

[screaming]

[尖叫]

In response, the U.S. debated airstrikes, but they were avoided when Syria agreed to give up its chemical weapons.

作為回應，美國考慮進行空襲，但最終在敘利亞答應放棄化學武器時終止行動。

But a new threat was also emerging — ISIS.

但一個新的威脅同時也在浮現——ISIS。

In 2014, the U.S. began supporting rebel groups to fight extremists, while also conducting airstrikes as part of an international coalition.

在 2014 年，美國開始支持反抗團體打擊極端主義者，同時作為國際聯盟的一分子執行空襲。

These efforts expanded and the U.S. troop numbers grew from hundreds to the low thousands.

這些措施擴展了，美軍部署人數從幾百升高至幾千。

In 2016, U.S.-supported fighters took control of the ISIS stronghold of Manbij — and in 2017 their de facto capital, Raqqa.

在 2016 年，由美國撐腰的反抗者掌管了 ISIS 在曼比季 (一個敘利亞古城) 的要塞，並且在 2017 年拿下他們的實質首都拉卡。

There are now around 2,000 American forces in Syria who are largely fighting alongside the Kurdish groups.

現在約有 2000 名美軍在敘利亞，大多和庫德族團隊並肩作戰。

This has been a problem for America's ally Turkey, which has a long-standing conflict with the Kurds.

這成了美國盟友土耳其的一個問題，土耳其長期以來一直和庫德族有衝突。

U.S. troops have had run-ins with Assad's forces as well as groups backed by Russia and Iran.

美軍和阿薩德的軍力有過衝突，還包含由俄羅斯還有伊朗撐腰的組織。

Since taking office, Trump has ordered two strikes on areas controlled by Assad in response to chemical weapons attacks.

自上任以來，川普已經下令了兩起針對阿薩德掌控區域的攻擊，作為對使用化學武器的反應。

"We are prepared to sustain this response, until the Syrian regime stops its use of prohibited chemical agents."

「我們準備好要持續進攻，直到敘利亞政權停止使用違禁的化學武器。」

U.S. officials and allies dispute the claim that ISIS has been defeated.

在 ISIS 是否已被擊敗的議題上，美國官方和盟國爭論不休。

They warn that an American departure will weaken U.S. influence in the region and may embolden Russia, Iran and Turkey, who are also on the ground.

他們警告，美國的撤離將會弱化美國在中東地區的影響力，有可能因此壯大俄國、伊朗和土耳其勢力，這些國家都還在戰場上。

The other worry? The move may inspire some ISIS fighters to return to Syria.

其他的隱憂呢？這一步有可能會促使一些 ISIS 人士回到敘利亞。