US DoD arranging plans for potential withdrawal of troops from Syria

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News Websites
Today 15:51

The United States, under Donald Trump, has been exploring and drawing plans to withdraw all American troops stationed in Syria.

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Crewmen enter Bradley fighting vehicles at a US military base at an undisclosed location in Northeastern Syria, on Nov. 11, 2019. (AP)

A plan brokered by the US Department of Defense to withdraw all American troops from Syria is underway, NBC News reported, citing two defense officials.

President Donald Trump and his close advisors have recently shown interest in withdrawing US troops from Syria, prompting Pentagon officials to start drafting plans for a complete pullout within 30, 60, or 90 days, according to officials.

Trump’s newly appointed national security advisor, Mike Waltz, spent Friday at US Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Florida, where he met with senior military leaders and received briefings on the Middle East, US defense officials reported.

Although a White House official stated that Waltz’s visit was not intended to discuss the possible reduction of US forces in Syria, nor was it a topic of the briefing, he affirmed that "it’s good for NSA Waltz to visit CENTCOM to get a sense of the entire region."

Who are the beneficiaries of US presence in Syria?

Suleiman Maswadeh, a political affairs commentator for the Israeli Kan channel, revealed that senior officials in the administration of US President Donald Trump have conveyed a message to Israeli security and political leaders, indicating Trump's desire to pull US forces out of Syria.

The topic has reportedly been under debate within Israeli political and security circles for weeks. According to Maswadeh, while the number of US troops in Syria is not significant—estimated at several thousand stationed across various bases—their presence is seen as influential. "These forces have a strong impact on Syria's behavior toward Israel," he stated.

Maswadeh added that US forces also play a critical role in supporting the Kurdish minority in Syria. However, there is growing concern over the possibility of a Turkish incursion into Syria, which could threaten Kurdish communities. "Israeli leaders are deeply worried about this scenario and about Trump's isolationist tendencies," he explained.

It is worth noting that "Israel" has expanded its occupation into Syria, establishing outposts beyond the agreed-upon buffer zone and seemingly building bases on Syrian territory.

Meanwhile, the leader of Kurdish forces controlling northeastern Syria has urged Donald Trump to maintain the US military presence in the region, cautioning that a withdrawal could lead to a resurgence of ISIS.

Mazloum Abdi, commander-in-chief of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), stated that ISIS had gained strength in the desert, acquiring weapons from the ousted al-Assad regime, while Kurdish forces faced increasing pressure from Turkiye and its Syrian proxies.

"The key factor of stabilization in this area is the US presence on the ground," Abdi told The Guardian, claiming that the removal of the 2,000 US troops would trigger the resurgence of multiple factions, including ISIS.