US Secretary of Defense James Mattis will leave his post in February, President Donald Trump announced Thursday on Twitter, the Voice of America reported.
Trump announces Pentagon chief’s stepping down
STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 21, ARTSAKHPRESS: “During Jim’s tenure, tremendous progress has been made, especially with respect to the purchase of new fighting,” Trump tweeted. “General Mattis was a great help to me in getting allies and other countries to pay their share of military obligations.”
The US president added that a new Secretary of Defense will be named shortly, and he thanked Mattis for his service.
The news came a day after Trump said that US troops would leave Syria, a move the Pentagon opposed.
While Trump said Mattis was retiring, Mattis released a letter at the Pentagon indicating he was stepping down.