James Jeffrey, the Trump administration’s special envoy for Syria and countering the Islamic State, called President Trump’s decision two weeks ago to abruptly remove U.S. troops in northern Syria a “tragic situation,” but added that after a five-day ceasefire, “we’re in a better place now than we were a week ago.”

Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., bristled with Jeffery during the hearing, at one point telling the state department official, “You’ve lost me on the credibility of your comments.”