>> so that's why the bradleys are there, they're as much of a deterrent as they are operationally important. is that fair? >> yeah, i think so, that's right. yeah, it's a changing security situation across syria. it's different than when we originally were there without all of the other forces moving around in the areas that we wanted to patrol. >> reporter: so we heard general hill there talking about this complex security environment. what he means is the u.s. troops were partnered with the syrian democratic course throughout much of northern syria. they've withdrawn from two of their major locations and are about to finish withdrawing from a third one towards the poureder with turkey. surface the turkish military moved into that area and pushed the syrian kurds out of the