Senate defense spending bill would restrict US troop drawdown from Syria

WASHINGTON — A provision included in the US Senate’s draft version of next year’s defense spending bill would prohibit the Pentagon from further reducing the US troop presence in Syria without first reporting to lawmakers.

The measure, which was cleared by the Senate’s Armed Services Committee last month, prohibits the Pentagon from consolidating or reducing its troop bases in Syria until the defense secretary certifies to relevant committees that the planned moves will “continue to…