US informed 'Israel' of Syria troop withdrawal date: Israeli media
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The United States notified "Israel" that it would withdraw its troops from Syria in two months, a decision that has raised concerns in the occupation as Turkey moves toward establishing its presence in Damascus.
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A U.S. military convoy drives along a road in northeastern Syria's Hasakeh province, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 (AP)
The United States has informed "Israel" of the timeline for the withdrawal of its troops from Syrian territory, according to Israeli newspaper Ynet.
United States officials informed the Israeli military that the US plans to withdraw its troops from Syria starting two months from now, and Ynet emphasized that US President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw his military forces from Syria is not surprising, as he announced his intention to pull American troops from Syria since he was inaugurated on January.
Two US Defense Department officials stated last February in an interview with NBC News that the department was developing plans to withdraw all American troops from Syria within 30, 60, or 90 days, a move that has raised concerns in "Israel".
It's worth noting that Trump previously announced he would withdraw US troops from Syria during his first term, stating their mission would conclude with the defeat of ISIS.
However, he later clarified the withdrawal would proceed gradually, while the US Defense Department confirmed at the time that the order for American troops to pull out of Syria had been signed.
According to the newspaper, "Israel" is concerned about escalating tensions with Turkey, which is openly working to expand its control over the region following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime, and "Israel" believes the US troop withdrawal could increase Turkey's appetite to seize more strategically significant military assets in the field.
'Israel', Turkey, discuss Turkish presence in Syria
Tensions between "Israel" and Turkey have been on the rise recently, as Ankara seeks to bolster its military presence while Tel Aviv strikes Syrian military bases to prevent Ankara from establishing a foothold in the country.
Turkish and Israeli officials have reportedly held direct talks in Azerbaijan, drawing criticism from analysts who see the discussions as a renewed attempt to partition Syria along foreign interests—a modern-day Sykes-Picot arrangement.
According to Israeli media, both sides have discussed potential red lines and territorial divisions, with "Israel" opposing any Turkish expansion beyond northern Syria and expressing alarm over Ankara's alleged plans to establish military bases near Palmyra.
Former Israeli Navy Commander Eli Marom bluntly stated, "Syria will no longer remain the same state—it will stay divided," acknowledging what many observers view as a coordinated effort to undermine Syrian sovereignty and unity.
Turkish Ambassador to Syria Burhan Koroglu mentioned ongoing technical discussions between Turkey and "Israel", currently taking place in Azerbaijan, which aim to prevent possible confrontations in Syrian airspace while stressing that Syria does not threaten "Israel" and describing Israeli attacks as unacceptable.
