THE United States needs to keep troops deployed in Syria to prevent Islamic State from reconstituting as a major threat following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad’s government, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Wednesday.

Mr Austin said forces are still needed there, particularly to ensure the security of detention camps holding tens of thousands of former IS fighters and their family members.

A many as 8,000-10,000 IS fighters are estimated to remain in the camps, at least 2,000 of whom are considered to be very dangerous.