BEIRUT (AP) — A Syrian Kurdish official says Syria's Kurds are awaiting clarifications from the U.S. over America's withdrawal plans following comments made by a top White House aide that appeared to contradict earlier comments by President Donald Trump.

Speaking to The Associated Press from northern Syria Monday, Badran Jia Kurd says the Kurds have not been informed of any change in the U.S. position and were in the dark about the latest comments by U.S. national security adviser John Bolton and what they indicated.

Bolton, on a visit to Israel Sunday, said U.S. troops will not leave northeastern Syria until IS militants are defeated and American-allied Kurdish fighters are protected. The comments appeared to put the brakes on a withdrawal abruptly announced by Trump last month and initially expected to be completed within weeks.