Trump appears to slow Syria troop pullout plan

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump appeared to backtrack on Monday on plans for an immediate pullout of US troops from Syria, but said his drive to end American involvement in wars made him a "hero".

The shift came a day after a senior Republican senator said Trump had promised to stay in Syria to finish the job of defeating the Islamic State group.

Trump had earlier stunned allies - and prompted the resignation of his respected defense secretary, Jim Mattis - by abruptly announcing that the jihadists were defeated and that US troops in Syria were ready to leave.