US to withdraw nearly all 1,000 troops from Syria region

US Officials Anticipate Troop Withdrawal from Syria Within Two Months

The United States is planning to withdraw nearly 1,000 troops from its military presence in Syria over the next two months, according to three US officials cited by the Wall Street Journal. The withdrawal follows an agreement aimed at reshaping Syria’s security structure and consolidating state authority.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) previously confirmed the withdrawal of troops from the al-Tanf base in southern Syria near the borders with Iraq and Jordan. The base was a key hub for operations against ISIL (ISIS), which controlled large areas of Syria and Iraq until sustaining critical losses in 2017.

The decision to withdraw troops from Syria is reportedly not connected to the current buildup of US naval and air forces elsewhere in the Middle East, where tensions are rising with Iran. However, the Trump administration has threatened military action against Iran in response to its crackdown on antigovernment protesters and frustrations with ongoing nuclear negotiations.

According to the officials, the withdrawal follows an agreement aimed at integrating the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the Syrian army. The arrangement was reached on January 29 and created a fragile ceasefire, paving the way for negotiations leading to the integration of the two forces.

The US-backed agreement aims to promote national unity and reconciliation in Syria after years of fragmented leadership. Government troops have since engaged in deadly clashes with the SDF, seizing large stretches of Kurdish-held territory, which has heightened concerns of a wider confrontation.

Source: Al Jazeera