WEBVTT 00:02.033 --> 00:05.133 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: American troops began leaving Syria today, as a tense cease-fire held between 00:06.300 --> 00:08.433 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% Turkish and Syrian Kurdish forces. 00:08.433 --> 00:13.300 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% Where the Americans were once hailed as helping the Kurds defeat ISIS, today, many in Northeast 00:15.200 --> 00:19.366 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Syria jeered and pelted American convoys with rotten vegetables and stones. 00:21.400 --> 00:24.966 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And special correspondent Jane Ferguson, reporting tonight from Northwestern Iraq near the Syria 00:26.400 --> 00:29.200 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% border, encountered some of those evacuating U.S. forces. 00:29.200 --> 00:34.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JANE FERGUSON: U.S. forces left the Northeast Syrian town of Tall Tamr under the cover of 00:36.133 --> 00:37.600 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% darkness. 00:37.600 --> 00:39.900 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% But protesters with signs blocked the convoys. 00:39.900 --> 00:44.866 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% One read, "Thanks for U.S. people, but Trump betrayed us." 00:48.566 --> 00:53.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% In the Kurdish held-town of Qamishli on the Turkish border, residents hurled potatoes. 00:55.500 --> 01:00.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% As they follow the president's orders and drive away, America's troops are leaving behind 01:00.100 --> 01:04.700 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% men they fought side by side with against ISIS. 01:04.700 --> 01:09.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% This weekend, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said most of the 1,000 troops leaving 01:11.766 --> 01:15.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Northeast Syria are headed to Iraq to press the fight against remnants of ISIS. 01:17.100 --> 01:21.133 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% That came despite a tweet from President Trump saying he was -- quote -- "bringing soldiers 01:21.633 --> 01:23.600 align:left position:40% line:89% size:50% home." 01:23.600 --> 01:27.600 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Today, he added some U.S. forces will stay in Syria to protect Kurdish-held oil fields 01:27.600 --> 01:30.633 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% from ISIS and to fight ISIS. 01:30.633 --> 01:33.600 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% In Kabul, Afghanistan, Esper said the move would be deliberate. 01:33.600 --> 01:37.366 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% MARK ESPER, U.S. Defense Secretary: This withdrawal will take weeks, not days. 01:37.366 --> 01:42.366 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Until that time, our forces will remain in the towns that are located near the oil fields. 01:44.333 --> 01:47.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JANE FERGUSON: But we witnessed a withdrawal that appears to be well on its way, arriving 01:49.900 --> 01:52.933 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% across the border in Iraq, a massive column of U.S. Special Forces, on their way to a 01:54.633 --> 01:58.366 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% new base, American flags flying, as Iraq's Kurds watched from the street. 02:00.366 --> 02:04.833 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% In Washington today, President Trump modified his earlier explanation that all troops were 02:04.833 --> 02:06.933 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% coming out. 02:06.933 --> 02:08.833 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States: Well, they're going to be sent initially to 02:08.833 --> 02:10.833 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% different parts, get prepared, and then ultimately we're bringing them home. 02:10.833 --> 02:12.866 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% We're bringing our troops back home. 02:12.866 --> 02:15.700 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% We never agreed to protect the Kurds for the rest of their lives. 02:15.700 --> 02:20.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JANE FERGUSON: The U.S. brokered a five-day cease-fire last Thursday after nearly a week 02:21.566 --> 02:23.533 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% of bloodshed along the border. 02:23.533 --> 02:27.866 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% It came amid widespread panic over possible war crimes committed by Turkish-backed Arab 02:27.866 --> 02:32.866 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% militias and the threat of ethnic cleansing against the Kurds. 02:34.933 --> 02:38.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% As part of the deal, the Kurds agreed to withdraw from within 20 miles of the Turkish border 02:39.500 --> 02:42.466 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% in areas where fighting is already under way. 02:42.466 --> 02:47.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Over the weekend, there was some fraying of the fragile cease-fire, with shelling across 02:47.200 --> 02:49.166 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% the Turkish-Syrian border. 02:49.166 --> 02:52.666 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% Each side accused the other of aggression. 02:52.666 --> 02:57.633 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Kurdish leaders said shelling from the Turkish army killed at least 17 people in the town 02:58.266 --> 03:00.633 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% of Ras al-Ayn. 03:00.633 --> 03:03.100 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% TALAAT YOUNIS, Kurdish official (through translator): The Turkish army and its mercenaries didn't 03:03.100 --> 03:07.666 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% stop their intensive attacks, aiming to wipe out everybody, and even now the shelling continues. 03:07.666 --> 03:12.666 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JANE FERGUSON: In Istanbul today, Turkey's foreign minister said it was the Kurds who 03:13.266 --> 03:15.400 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% initiated. 03:15.400 --> 03:18.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% He said the Kurds were still honoring the pact, but added that Turkey would resume its 03:18.266 --> 03:21.200 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% operations if the Kurds don't leave the border areas. 03:21.200 --> 03:23.700 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% MEVLUT CAVUSOGLU, Turkish Foreign Minister (through translator): Harassment fires continue. 03:23.700 --> 03:27.633 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% I think around 30 harassment fires already came. 03:27.633 --> 03:29.666 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% And we lost one soldier. 03:29.666 --> 03:34.633 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And we, of course -- as we agreed with the Americans, we have retaliated. 03:36.033 --> 03:39.266 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% If they don't withdraw, our operation will restart. 03:39.266 --> 03:44.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JANE FERGUSON: Amid the upheaval, not just fighters are fleeing, but terrified civilians 03:44.200 --> 03:46.233 align:left position:40% line:89% size:50% too. 03:46.233 --> 03:50.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% The United Nations says more than 176,000 people have been uprooted from their homes 03:51.566 --> 03:53.633 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% in Northeast Syria, including 70,000 children. 03:53.633 --> 03:58.633 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Some of them end up in camps like this, in Bandarash in Northwest Iraq. 04:00.766 --> 04:05.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Here we met Kasuma Abdul, one of many mothers who now fears she may be forced to raise her 04:05.733 --> 04:09.866 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% children as refugees. 04:09.866 --> 04:11.966 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% When will you return? 04:11.966 --> 04:13.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% KASUMA ABDUL, Kurdish Refugee (through translator): When will it become a settled country, how 04:13.333 --> 04:14.766 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% we need it to be? 04:14.766 --> 04:16.200 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% We are afraid to return. 04:16.200 --> 04:19.500 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% There is shelling, warplanes and soldiers there. 04:19.500 --> 04:24.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JANE FERGUSON: More like her arrive at the camp every day from their homes inside Syria. 04:26.166 --> 04:29.666 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% For people here, there is such an incredible degree of uncertainty. 04:31.600 --> 04:34.966 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And that's because their lives are impacted by a foreign policy that changes by the day. 04:37.033 --> 04:41.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% One thing everyone we spoke with was certain of was who they blame for this crisis. 04:41.333 --> 04:43.566 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% KANIWAR ABDUL HAMID, Kurdish Refugee (through translator): Trump is responsible. 04:43.566 --> 04:45.300 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% He betrayed the Kurds. 04:45.300 --> 04:47.500 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Children have died . People have been displaced. 04:47.500 --> 04:50.000 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% All these people in these tents, it's Trump's fault. 04:50.000 --> 04:51.433 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% He took the decision. 04:51.433 --> 04:53.433 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% He sold out the Kurds. 04:53.433 --> 04:57.666 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JANE FERGUSON: Kurds like Kaniwar Abdul Hamid told us they believe strongly the American 04:57.666 --> 04:59.733 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% soldiers don't want to leave. 04:59.733 --> 05:03.666 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% KANIWAR ABDUL HAMID (through translator): It's not the American military's fault. 05:03.666 --> 05:05.433 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% It was the president's decision. 05:05.433 --> 05:07.500 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% The military has to follow orders. 05:07.500 --> 05:11.933 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JANE FERGUSON: Tomorrow, the cease-fire between Turkey and the Kurds is set to expire. 05:11.933 --> 05:16.933 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm Jane Ferguson in Dohuk, Iraq.