The United States is set to significantly reduce its military presence in Syria, downsizing from eight bases to just one. The new U.S. special envoy, Thomas Barrack, has indicated a shift in U.S. policy in the region, citing the ineffectiveness of past strategies over the last century.
Barrack, who was appointed special envoy by President Donald Trump last month, following the unexpected lifting of U.S. sanctions on Syria, revealed these plans during an interview with Turkish broadcaster NTV. As of now, there are approximately 2,000 U.S. troops stationed in Syria, primarily in the northeast, working with local forces to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State, which had seized vast territories in Iraq and Syria in 2014.
This comes in the wake of a shift in power in Syria. With former President Bashar al-Assad ousted in December, the United States and other nations are re-engaging with Damascus under the new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa. Barrack, also serving as U.S. ambassador to Turkey, raised the American flag over the ambassador’s residence in Damascus last week, a sight unseen since 2012.
When questioned about the future direction of U.S. policy in Syria and potential troop withdrawal, Barrack said: “What I can assure you is that our current Syria policy will not be close to the Syria policy of the last 100 years, because none of these have worked.” The reduction of military bases is a significant part of this shift.
This development follows earlier reports that military equipment and vehicles had been relocated from eastern Deir el-Zor, with resources being consolidated in the province of Hasakah. In line with this, a U.S. State Department official stated that troop presence would be reduced “if and when appropriate,” based on the situation and operational needs.
Reports indicate that the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a U.S. ally and key factor for the U.S. Congress, will play an important role in this new geopolitical landscape. The SDF, primarily led by the YPG militia, is the main coalition partner against Islamic State militants in Syria. However, it faces opposition from Turkey due to its perceived affiliation with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
In conclusion, the United States plans to scale down its military presence in Syria as part of a broader shift in its policy towards the war-torn country. However, the exact details of this shift and its potential implications for the region remain to be seen.
