The United States intends to withdraw about 600 soldiers from Syria, leaving fewer than 1000 to work with Kurdish allies and local militias in the fight against the Islamic State.
US President Donald Trump had attempted to withdraw all forces from Syria during his first term, but faced opposition from the Pentagon, as this was seen as an abandonment of allies and led to the resignation of former Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis.
American troops have been crucial not only in operations against the Islamic State, but also as a shield for Kurdish forces against Turkey, which considers them linked to terrorist groups.
The withdrawal of 600 soldiers will return the military presence to the level of previous years, after a years-long campaign by the US and its allies to defeat ISIS.
The US has kept about 900 soldiers in Syria to ensure that ISIS militants do not regain control of certain areas, as well as to prevent Iranian-backed militants from smuggling weapons through southern Syria.
The number of American soldiers increased to over 2000 after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, as Iranian-backed militants began attacking American troops and interests in the region in response to Israeli bombing of Gaza.
Meanwhile, according to Israeli media, Israel's political and military leadership is working to convince the US to limit the withdrawal, fearing that this step will fuel Turkey's ambitions to control Syria.
Otherwise, Turkey is reported to have more responsibility for security in Syria from now on, which was confirmed by the leaders of both countries during a meeting in Ankara. /Telegraph/
US Forces Begin Syria Drawdown in Earnest
Sightings of US convoys of equipment-laden trucks abound this morning as the first tranche of 600 US forces slated to withdraw from Syria transfer control of their bases and outposts to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) subordinate to... pic.twitter.com/kUi88po8lC
- OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) April 18, 2025
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