US to Cut Troop Presence in Syria Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions

The US military presence in Syria will drop to less than 1,000 troops in the next few months, the Pentagon said on Friday. As the U.S. troops combine their operations under Operation Inherent Resolve (Combined Joint Task Force), this is a big change in strategy.

"Today, the Secretary of Defense ordered the consolidation of U.S. forces in Syria," said Sean Parnell, a spokesman for the Pentagon. Parnel shared, "He did this because he recognized the success the United States has had against ISIS, including its territorial defeat in 2019 under President Trump."

The number of troops leaving was not released by officials, but the New York Times says that 600 troops will be leaving. This will bring troop levels closer to what they were before the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks in Israel. Before, U.S. forces were increased to over 2,000 after tensions in the area rose due to militias backed by Iran.

The Pentagon stressed that this move shows that ISIS's operational skills have been weakened while reassuring everyone that the military is still ready to go. It was also said that "U.S. Central Command will remain ready to continue strikes against the remnants of ISIS."

In Syria, U.S. troops have been very important not only in fighting ISIS but also in helping Kurdish allies and keeping Iran from having too much power. As a buffer against Turkish aggression toward Kurdish troops, they have helped protect U.S. interests in the area.

Despite the recent departure of troops, there are still threats. US citizens have been attacked by groups backed by Iran. Earlier this year, a drone attack in Jordan killed a US soldier. In the meantime, things are still not stable in Syria, where people are worried about the return of the Islamic State and Israeli attacks on weapons sites.

The Pentagon said again that it would keep the pressure on ISIS up through strategic partnerships and targeted actions.