The top US general in the Middle East has said he disagrees with President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from Syria.
Gen Joseph Votel told CNN that IS militants were still active in Syria and US-backed forces were not yet capable of handling the threat alone.
The commander told the Senate last week that Mr Trump did not consult him ahead of announcing his Syria pull-out plans.
He is the latest US official to break with Mr Trump over his Syria policies.
During his Friday address from the White House Rose Garden, the president said he would have an update on Syria within the next 24 hours.
“We have a lot of great announcements having to do with Syria and our success with the eradication of the caliphate,” Mr Trump said.
But the general leading that battle has expressed a different sentiment.
“[IS] still has leaders, still has fighters, it still has facilitators, it still has resources, so our continued military pressure is necessary to continue to go after that network,” Gen Votel told CNN earlier on Friday.
“When I say, ‘we have defeated them,' I want to ensure that means they do not have the capability to plot or direct attacks against the US or our allies.”
Mr Trump announced in December that “after historic victories” against IS, he would be immediately withdrawing US troops from the region.
His surprise policy shift led to the resignation of Defence Secretary Jim Mattis, further shocking US lawmakers and allies.
Gen Votel said: “It…
