Military, intelligence sources cited by New York Times say Syria pullout endangered mission; info on IS leader's location said to have come from his wife, courier

For beleaguered US president, facing impeachment and criticized over Syria pullout, raid that killed Islamic State leader couldn't have come at a better time

Abu Ahmad says IS leader, killed in US raid, had claimed to be a merchant, left early every day and rebuffed all efforts to befriend him

Experts doubtful whether new plans to secure oil fields amid troop withdrawal are realistic, or even legal

Deployment will likely include tanks; Esper does not give details on troop numbers but says despite Trump vow to bring soldiers home, many will be repositioned

But, he says, Washington hasn't seen widespread evidence of ethnic cleansing; defense secretary says Turkey 'heading in wrong direction' after Trump announces lifting of sanctions

Without firing a shot, dictator's forces are returning to towns and villages in northeastern Syria where they haven't set foot for years

'Let someone else fight over this long, blood-stained sand,' president says; Critics charge move leads to loss of US influence in area and will see Islamic State resurgence

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper assures Baghdad that redeployed troops will only temporarily stay in country before returning home

US pullout being carried out with more haste and violence than expected, and may be partially reversed, as troops caught in middle of Turkish fire aimed at Kurdish forces