“Our diplomats there on the ground have been doubled in number. As we see the military operations becoming less, we will see the diplomatic effort now able to take (root)” Mattis said, as quoted by Reuters.
Mattis did not specify how many U.S. diplomats are in Syria.
The Defense Secretary said that the U.S.' operations against the so-called Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL/IS/Daesh) is nearing its end, as their allies from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) wrap up their operations against the terrorist group.
The Syrian Democratic Forces control most of the territory east of the Euphrates River in Syria after a long battle against the Islamic State terrorists.
