On June 2, U.S. officials reportedly revealed that 500 American troops have been withdrawn from Syria in recent weeks, bringing the total presence to about 1,500 personnel if true. Other reports indicate that this consolidation will continue by further reducing troop numbers and closing all but one U.S. base. Yet until the new government in Damascus or other actors prove they can take on the main U.S. mission in Syria—fighting the Islamic State (IS)—making further reductions could jeopardize U.S. policy goals in Syria and beyond. Avoiding this risk requires a more flexible drawdown, with around 1,000-2,000 U.S. troops operating from more than one base. Such an approach would support two of the top priorities that President Trump expressed to President Ahmed al-Sharaa during their May 14 meeting: helping to prevent an IS resurgence and assuming responsibility for IS detention centers in the northeast. It would also enable Washington to work with local factions via the crucial base at al-Tanf, continue supporting America’s most battle-tested partner against IS, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and exert leverage over the new government’s efforts to integrate armed groups.
Reducing the U.S. Presence in Syria Too Quickly Could Help the Islamic State (Ido Levy – Washington Institute for Near East Policy)
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