US Defense Department making plans to withdraw all U.S. troops from Syria
The Defense Department is developing plans for a full withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria, two defense officials revealed to NBC News on Tuesday.
The Defense Department is in the process of creating plans to withdraw all U.S. troops from Syria after recent statements made by President Donald Trump. Trump and his close advisors have shown a desire to remove U.S. forces from Syria, leading Pentagon officials to start formulating plans for a complete withdrawal within 30, 60, or 90 days.
The officials indicated that President Donald Trump and his close advisors have recently expressed interest in pulling U.S. military personnel out of Syria.
This decision has sparked worries about the possible effects on the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the safety of prisons and refugee camps that hold ISIS fighters.
Trump’s newly appointed national security adviser, Mike Waltz, spent Friday at the U.S. Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Florida, where he met with senior U.S. military officials and received updates on the situation in the Middle East, according to defense officials.
A White House spokesperson mentioned that the potential reduction of U.S. forces in Syria was not discussed during the briefing and was not the primary focus of Waltz's visit.
“It’s valuable for NSA Waltz to engage with CENTCOM to understand the broader region,” the spokesperson emphasized, noting that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the White House on Tuesday, and that Jordan’s King Abdullah is expected to arrive next week.
A Pentagon representative declined to comment.
In late 2019, Trump instructed Defense Secretary James Mattis to pull all U.S. troops out of Syria. Mattis opposed the plan and eventually resigned in protest. Although Trump did withdraw most U.S. forces, he later redeployed some back to the region. The U.S. military presence in Syria has persisted since then. In December, the Pentagon revealed that approximately 2,000 troops were stationed in Syria, which was more than double the previously stated figure of around 900. A Pentagon spokesperson referred to the additional 1,100 troops as “temporary rotational forces” for periods of about 30 to 90 days, while the 900 were considered “core” troops that had been deployed for nearly a year.
The Pentagon says that the military mission in Syria aims to weaken the Islamic State terrorist group and assist local partners in the region. These partners include the Syrian Democratic Forces, a coalition of Kurdish-led militias and rebel groups, working to prevent ISIS from reestablishing a safe haven. Defense officials caution that withdrawing U.S. troops from Syria would leave the Syrian Democratic Forces vulnerable and jeopardize the security of over two dozen prisons and refugee camps, which house more than 50,000 individuals, including approximately 9,000 ISIS fighters.
The potential consequences of U.S. troop withdrawal from Syria:
The withdrawal could strengthen the positions of Russia and Iran in Syria, as there would be a reduced U.S. presence to counter their influence.
There is a concern that ISIS might regain power and territory, given that U.S. forces have played a crucial role in keeping the group.
The SDF, a crucial partner of the U.S. in the battle against ISIS, may find itself exposed to threats from Turkey and other adversarial forces.
The withdrawal could lead to increased instability, potentially worsening the refugee crisis as more individuals might be compelled to leave their homes.
The decision might undermine the U.S.'s credibility with its allies and partners, as it could be perceived as a sign of unreliability.
The withdrawal could escalate tensions and potentially spark conflict between Turkey and Syrian government forces, as well as between Turkey and Kurdish forces.
The Kurdish community in northern Syria is especially worried about the withdrawal. They are concerned that it may leave them vulnerable to direct assaults from the Turkish military, given that Turkey perceives Kurdish forces as a threat.