Republicans and Democrats alarmed over Mattis resignation

US Secretary of Defense James Mattis will be departing his post in February

The abrupt resignation of Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has alarmed an already tense Capitol Hill, causing lawmakers on both sides to speak out.

Democrats decried the latest Trump administration departure as a "crisis", but Republicans also voiced concern.

Senators Mitch McConnell and Marco Rubio called the move distressing and damaging to the US on the world stage.

Gen Mattis appeared to clash with Mr Trump over his decision to withdraw troops from Syria.

In his resignation letter, Gen Mattis, 68, said the president had the right to appoint someone "whose views are better aligned with yours".

The announcement of his departure came amid two major military decisions Gen Mattis had opposed: withdrawing troops from Syria and reducing US presence in Afghanistan.

US allies were not consulted or informed ahead of time about the president's decisions, US media reported.

The respected general will leave the job in February, though it remains unclear who President Donald Trump has in mind to replace him.

On Capitol Hill, Gen Mattis' resignation - and his reason for doing so - shocked lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

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Democrats cry "crisis"

Democratic Senator Mark Warner, who is vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, labelled the development "scary".

"Secretary Mattis has been an island of stability amidst the chaos of the Trump administration," he said.

Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy called Gen Mattis' apparent protest resignation "a national security crisis".

Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, ranking member on the Armed Services committee, said, "President Trump is leading the country in the wrong direction and Secretary Mattis isn't willing to go along with it".

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi also described Gen Mattis as a "comfort to many" who were concerned about the Trump presidency.

And Representative Adam Schiff of California, ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, said the White House would "not see his like again while Trump remains in office".

Former vice-president Joe Biden also weighed in, saying Gen Mattis' presence would be missed and his exit makes it "clear this administration has abandoned those core American beliefs".

Retired Army Gen Stanley McChrystal, the former top US commander in Afghanistan, told CNN: "The kind of leadership that causes a dedicated patriot like Jim Mattis to leave should give pause to every American."

Republicans distressed over departure

Even top lawmakers from Mr Trump's own Republican Party have criticised the administration over Gen Mattis' departure.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he was "distressed" to hear the resignation was reportedly due to "sharp differences" with the president on "key aspects of America's global leadership".

The Kentucky Republican also urged Mr Trump to choose a replacement "who shares Secretary Mattis' understanding" of American principles.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who ran against Mr Trump for the Republican nomination in 2016, said the letter "makes it abundantly clear that we are headed towards a series of grave policy errors which will endanger our nation, damage our alliances & empower our adversaries".

Senator Lindsey Graham, who has been a vocal critic of the administration's decisions to withdraw troops in Syria and Afghanistan, tweeted his "great sadness" about the news, saying Gen Mattis had "provided sound and ethical military advice to President Trump".

On Friday, Mr Graham also called for Congress to hold hearings regarding Mr Trump's military decisions "to understand implications to our national security".

Illinois Representative Adam Kinzinger said of Gen Mattis' resignation: "That's what happens when you ignore sound military advice."

He added Gen Mattis' departure was "an act of patriotism, standing for our American principles above all else".

And Nebraska Republican Senator Ben Sasse, who has criticised the president before, said it was a "sad day for America because Secretary Mattis was giving advice the president needs to hear", US media reported.

Other Republicans have not been as dire in their reactions, expressing disappointment while urging the president to find a capable replacement, US media reported.