Media reports US retracting troops from Syria

(MENAFN) The United States has started withdrawing troops from Syria, where they have been stationed without the consent of the Syrian government since 2014, according to reports from the New York Times and the Associated Press on Thursday. Sources indicated that the US military plans to close three of its eight bases in northeastern Syria, reducing troop numbers from 2,000 to approximately 1,400. The bases set to be shut down include Mission Support Site Green Village, M.S.S. Euphrates, and a smaller unnamed facility. Commanders are expected to reassess troop levels in two months, with a recommendation to keep at least 500 troops stationed in Syria.

The AP reports that troop reductions may be more extensive, with fewer than 1,000 US soldiers expected to remain. Those who stay will focus on supporting the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in counterterrorism efforts and managing detention camps. This drawdown is said to follow recommendations from ground commanders and has received approval from the Pentagon and US Central Command. However, neither the Pentagon nor the White House has officially confirmed the withdrawal.

The US military has been operating in Syria since 2014, initially with the goal of combating ISIS. At the time, troop levels were estimated to be around 900, though the Pentagon later revealed that 2,000 personnel were stationed in the country. This withdrawal follows the ousting of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad by a coalition of armed groups, including the Islamist faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

Both Damascus and Moscow have repeatedly criticized the US presence in Syria, calling it an illegal occupation. The Syrian government has accused Washington of exploiting Syria’s oil resources, as many US bases are located in the oil-rich northeast.

US President Donald Trump has previously expressed skepticism about the prolonged presence of American troops in Syria, stating in 2018 that Syria was “a mess” and that the US should have “nothing to do with it.”

Meanwhile, Russia has pledged to maintain its support for Syria despite Assad's removal. President Vladimir Putin reiterated Moscow's commitment to Syrian sovereignty during a meeting with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Russia continues to operate its military bases at Khmeimim and Tartus under a long-term lease agreement signed in 2017.

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