US slashes troop count in Syria as regime shifts impact strategy
The US Department of Defense announced on Friday the withdrawal of about 1,000 soldiers from Syria, out of approximately 2,000 currently deployed in the country to combat the terrorist Islamic State (IS). This marks a significant reduction in military presence in the region.
What you need to know
- Withdrawal of soldiers: The US Department of Defense announced that in the coming months, the number of American soldiers in Syria will decrease to fewer than 1,000.
- Political changes: In December 2024, rebels overthrew the regime of Bashar al-Assad, which led to an agreement between the new government and the Kurds in March 2025.
- Support for the Kurds: The remaining US soldiers will continue to support the Kurds in fighting terrorism and managing camps for IS fighters and their families.
USA withdrawing half of the troops from Syria
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated that following this decision, "in the coming months" the US military "will bring the U.S. footprint in Syria down to less than a thousand U.S. forces."
The "New York Times" reported on Thursday, citing sources in the US government, that the US army will close three of the eight small military bases it maintains in Syria.
Why is the USA reducing its contingent in Syria?
The decision is a result of the changing situation in Syria, where in December 2024, rebels led by current President Ahmed al-Shara overthrew the regime of Bashar al-Assad, as noted by "NYT".
In March 2025, the new Syrian government signed an agreement with the Kurds controlling the northeast of the country, aiming to unite a nation divided by a civil war ongoing since 2011. The Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are the strongest group independent of the government in Damascus. Under the agreement, Kurdish civilian and military structures are expected to integrate with the central authority by the end of the year.
For years, the Kurds have been the main allies of the USA, providing crucial support in the fight against the Islamic State. The terrorist group seized large areas of Syria and Iraq over a decade ago but was later expelled from these territories.
The remaining American soldiers in Syria will continue to support the Kurds in combating terrorism, as well as managing camps where approximately 9,000-10,000 IS fighters are detained, along with around 35,000 members of their families, added "NYT".
Will the reduction of the contingent affect the region's stability?
Following Assad's overthrow, IS activity increased, including a rise in the number of attacks carried out by the group. In the annual assessment presented to Congress in March by US intelligence, it was noted that IS might exploit the power shift in Syria to release prisoners and rebuild its strength.
The administration of President Donald Trump hopes that the new authorities in Damascus will cooperate in combating the resurgent IS, according to Washington officials. Initial signals are positive, and Syrian forces have already foiled several IS attacks with the help of intelligence information provided by the USA.
There have already been reports in the media that the Trump administration may further reduce the contingent in Syria or completely withdraw troops from the country. Deeper U.S. troop cuts, however, could be in store, threatening the stability of that transition, wrote the New York newspaper.
