(CNN) Defense Secretary Mark Esper faced tough questions Wednesday during a meeting on Capitol Hill with Republican lawmakers who have grown frustrated with the Trump administration's policy in Syria, according to multiple people familiar with the meeting.

The sources said the back and forth at the meeting -- hosted by House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican -- was tense at times as members demanded to know what was being done to protect Kurdish allies in Syria and block the resurgence of ISIS.

"There are a lot of Republicans who don't agree with that policy," one Republican member who was in the meeting told CNN adding that "it was a little heated" at times.

According to another source familiar with the meeting, multiple members challenged Esper on Syria, saying things like, "This is the worst foreign policy decision of my lifetime."

Members lined up at microphones to ask questions and a majority of questions were about Syria. Lawmakers in the room applauded colleagues who spoke against administration's decision to withdraw US forces, abandon Kurds and to effectively allow Turkey to invade.

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