United States President Donald Trump has given in to pressure to slow down his planned troop pullout from Syria, permitting the US military four months to withdraw.

The New York Times reported the decision on Monday. Trump had initially given the American forces 30 days for the procedure.

The American president had hinted at a more extensive pullout timetable earlier on Monday, tweeting about "slowly sending our troops back home."

Many military and Pentagon officials had sought to entirely change the president's mind on the planned pullout. Some military officials also argue that more time is required to withdraw the troops in an "orderly" manner.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a vocal supporter of the president, met Trump on the matter on Sunday.

Graham announced that Trump had agreed to put the 30-day evacuation plan in a “pause situation” to reevaluate his decision.

PressTV-Trump to reevaluate Syria evacuation: Sen. Graham

Donald Trump’s close ally, Senator Lindsey Graham, says the US president has agreed to pause the Syria evacuation plans.

Earlier on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had also urged Trump to slow down the planned withdrawal.

Trump reportedly accepted Netanyahu's request according to Israeli media sources citing an unnamed senior Israeli diplomatic official.

The news comes as Bolton is also scheduled to visit Turkey and Israel to discuss regional security issues in the coming days.

Two weeks ago, US President Donald Trump abruptly announced that his country had "defeated" Daesh Takfiri terrorists in Syria and would be pulling all 2,000 American forces from the country.

PressTV-Pentagon signs order for US pullout from Syria

The US military says the order to pull American forces out of Syria has been signed after an agreement between US and Turkish presidents.

Many believe Trump’s decision upended a central pillar of US Middle East policy, stunning opponents and allies alike. 

Speaking to The Washington Post in November, Trump had stressed that “we have reached a point where we don’t have to stay in the Middle East."

Trump, however, restrained from calling for a complete withdrawal from the region, highlighting Israel's need for US protection.

"One reason to stay is Israel,” said Trump in the interview.

US to keep forces in Mideast for Israel’s sake: Trump

President Trump says “one reason” for the United States to maintain military presence in the Middle East is Israel.

Trump, addressing concerns about the effects of the US pullout on Israel, however, apparently backpedaled from previous comments during a surprise visit to US troops in Iraq last week.

“I told Bibi. And, you know, we give Israel $4.5 billion a year. And they’re doing very well defending themselves, if you take a look,” said Trump.

“So that’s the way it is.”

It is not immediately clear, nevertheless, where Trump's $4.5 billion figure came from.

As the US government is in shutdown due to a dispute with Congress over the allocation of $5 billion in funds needed for Trump’s proposed southern border wall, the US enforced a whooping 10-year $38-billion aid package to Tel Aviv last October.

The aid package, which includes a record annual $3.3-billion contribution, was signed during the tenure of former US President Barack Obama in 2016. The package will provide Israel with free military material until 2028.Source: presstv.com