U.S. Department of Defense Plans to Withdraw Troops from Syria

NBC Reports U.S. Military Withdrawal from Syria Within 30 to 90 Days / AP

NBC News reported that the U.S. Department of Defense is preparing to withdraw all U.S. military forces stationed in Syria. This follows President Donald Trump's expressed interest in pulling out troops from the region, marking a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy.

According to the report, U.S. defense officials have developed plans to withdraw all American forces within 30 to 90 days. Currently, approximately 2,000 U.S. soldiers are stationed in Syria, with their primary mission being to support local forces, particularly the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS). These troops work alongside Kurdish-led fighters to prevent the resurgence of ISIS and other extremist groups.

The decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria has been a contentious issue since the Trump administration's first term. Back in 2018, Trump made a surprise announcement that U.S. forces would withdraw from Syria, but this decision faced fierce opposition. High-ranking officials like then-Defense Secretary James Mattis resigned, and bipartisan opposition to the move mounted. As a result, the U.S. continued its military presence, particularly in northern Syria, where U.S. forces resumed significant operations against ISIS.

By December 2024, the U.S. military presence in Syria was approximately 2,000 soldiers, including 900 core personnel on year-long deployments and 1,100 rotating personnel who served for 30 to 90 days. The primary mission of these forces is to support the SDF in preventing the spread of ISIS and other extremist groups in the region. These efforts are critical to maintaining stability in parts of Syria and curbing ISIS's territorial expansion.

The planned withdrawal raises concerns about the future stability of Syria, particularly regarding the ongoing fight against ISIS. Without U.S. military support, the SDF's capacity to combat ISIS may be significantly weakened. The SDF, which has relied heavily on U.S. funding and military assistance, is currently housing around 50,000 fighters, including 9,000 ISIS combatants. Without continued U.S. support, thousands of ISIS detainees could potentially be released, according to NBC's analysis.

Farhad Shami, a spokesperson for the SDF, expressed concern over the lack of communication regarding the U.S. withdrawal plans. He pointed out that adversarial groups like ISIS would likely view the U.S. withdrawal as a victory and could exploit the situation to regain strength. He emphasized that ISIS and other malicious groups "want to return to the situation of 2014," before the U.S. military intervened to combat their advance.

In conclusion, the U.S. Department of Defense's plans to withdraw troops from Syria will have significant implications for the region's security landscape. The departure of U.S. forces could destabilize the ongoing efforts to combat ISIS and allow extremist groups to regain momentum. As the situation evolves, the international community will need to closely monitor the developments and their impact on regional stability.