On Friday, Retired Rear Admiral John Kirby explained to CNN host Jim Acosta that there are "serious repercussions" to President Donald Trump's decision to abruptly withdraw American troops out of Syria.
He noted that Trump's swift decision was all part of Vladimir Putin's plan.
“The Kurds that the U.S. have been training and working with to fight ISIS have now asked Syrian forces under the command of Bashar Hafez al-Assad to come in and help them” battle against a possible "Turkish invasion," Acosta said.
Kirby said that the development was "significant."
"What they're specifically doing is asking Russia to lean on Assad to provide help. It's very significant, and you're seeing in real-time the ramifications of the president's decision to abruptly withdraw those troops," Kirby said.
He explained, "It means the end of [US] credibility and any leverage we might have had in figuring out the future in Syria. The future of Syria has now come full circle. This is Putin's plan."
"So as the U.S. pulls out, and Russia moves in, essentially," Acosta said.
Watch below via CNN.