United States to Withdraw 1,000 Troops from Syria in Coming Months

Latest Developments

• Pentagon Confirms Troop Consolidation: The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) confirmed on April 18 that the United States will consolidate and reduce its forces in Syria, maintaining fewer than one thousand troops under Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR). “This consolidation reflects significant steps we have made toward degrading ISIS’ appeal and operational capability regionally and globally,” according to a statement from Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell. “As this consolidation takes place, consistent with President Trump’s commitment to peace through strength, U.S. Central Command will remain poised to continue strikes against the remnants of ISIS in Syria.”
• Over 1,000 Troops to be Withdrawn: DOD reported that approximately 2,000 U.S. troops were stationed in Syria as of December 2024, up from the roughly 900 troops in Syria before the October 7, 2023 Hamas assault on Israel and the subsequent surge of attacks by Iranian proxies on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria. The newly announced consolidation, set to occur over the “coming months,” will reposition remaining troops to “select locations in Syria,” and result in the withdrawal of roughly 1,000 U.S. troops from the country. According to a report from The New York Times, the Pentagon has already been reducing U.S. forces in the country and plan to close three of eight outposts in Syria, including the strategic Mission Support Site Green Village and Mission Support Site Euphrates.
• U.S. Activity Against ISIS in Syria: The United States established CJTF-OIR in October 2014 to counter the rise of ISIS in both Iraq and Syria. A U.S.-led air campaign supported the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which declared in 2019 that the ISIS caliphate had been territorially defeated in Syria. But General Michael E. Kurilla, the commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), warned Congress last year that an “ISIS resurgence remains a threat.” On April 18, Parnell noted that CENTCOM “has launched dozens of air strikes over the last year to further degrade ISIS capabilities and deny them the ability to regain strength.”

FDD Expert Response

“Presidents Obama and Biden conducted premature, conditions-ignoring military withdrawals from Iraq in 2011 and Afghanistan in 2021, respectively, and our nation paid the price. Let’s hope Trump doesn’t repeat the same mistake in Syria. The ISIS caliphate is defeated but the terrorist organization isn’t. ISIS attacks spiked last year and have continued this year. The United States should support our partners in Syria, help them keep ISIS detainees detained, and ensure that ISIS terrorists spend their time worrying about airstrikes rather than plotting terror attacks. It is appropriate to periodically assess and adjust U.S. forward defense posture, but if we reduce U.S. military posture in Syria excessively or prematurely, we will risk an ISIS resurgence that we will regret.” — Bradley Bowman, Senior Director of FDD’s Center of Military and Political Power

“The U.S. will need to keep a careful eye on the Islamic State. If this is truly a conditions-based withdrawal, we should be ready to send those troops back if the Islamic State recovers. Deploying an extra thousand troops is a small cost to prevent a terrorist resurgence.” — David Adesnik, Vice President of Research

“Reports on the U.S. troop withdrawal from Syria suggest the redeployment will happen in phases. This phased approach is crucial — it allows for flexibility in case emerging threats require a reversal of action. It also helps build confidence with the U.S.-backed SDF and the new Syrian government, paving the way for potential integration of the SDF into Syria’s security forces. Finally, it sends a clear message that the United States remains committed to its regional partners and allies.” — Seth J. Frantzman, Adjunct Fellow

FDD Background and Analysis

“American troops train Syrian Free Army at Tanf Garrison as US weighs next moves in Syria,” by Seth J. Frantzman

“After SDF-Damascus deal, a spotlight on US forces in Syria,” by Seth J. Frantzman

“To Succeed in Competition with China, Don’t Abandon the Middle East,” by Bradley Bowman

“Trump Syria withdrawal decision immoral and short-sighted,” by Bradley Bowman