Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli army claims intercepting a ballistic missile launched from Yemen
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Sirens sound in Tel Aviv and occupied al-Quds
US President Donald Trump says Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with the Syrian foreign minister this week
US President Donald Trump says he has taken steps to restore normal Syria relations
US President Donald Trump says he will order the cessation of sanctions against Syria
US President Donald Trump: We will be bringing back more Gaza hostages
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Israeli occupation army targeted the Gaza European Hospital, southeast of Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, with several missiles
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Israeli occupation army committed a horrific massacre after launching a series of raids targeting the Gaza European Hospital and its surroundings
Source: Qatar and Egypt encouraged Hamas to accept the American offer in exchange for an implicit pledge from Washington to play an efficient role in ending the war
Source: In late April, communication resumed, and US-Palestinian Bashara Bahbah, originally from occupied al-Quds, engaged in the communications

US shifts Syria strategy to curb Iran, not rebuild nation: WashPo

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Washington Post
  • 17 Apr 2025 20:33
3 Min Read

While traditional justifications for US deployments have centered on counterterrorism, officials are becoming increasingly transparent about their true priorities.

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

The United States is recalibrating its military footprint in Syria, not to stabilize the country or support post-conflict reconstruction, but to strategically constrain Iran's regional influence, according to a report by The Washington Post on Thursday.

Multiple US officials confirmed that the Trump administration has no plans for a full withdrawal. Instead, the emphasis is on reducing and consolidating forces to maintain key leverage points along critical corridors they claimed are being used by Iran and its allies. "Stuff is already moving, although they [the Trump administration] likely won't announce anything before the Iran talks," one US defense official said. He confirmed that military planning is already underway to "reduce" and "consolidate" American forces in Syria.

While traditional justifications for US deployments have centered on alleged counterterrorism, officials are becoming increasingly transparent about their true priorities. "We're not necessarily looking at saving Syria for the Syrian population," a US official stated. "We're looking at Iran not coming back and the Islamic State terror group not coming back as the crucial interest of the American people there."

The troop adjustments, reported by CBS News, involve scaling down the 2,000-strong force and concentrating remaining personnel at fewer bases.

US troops have begun exiting the Koniko gas field base in Deir ez-Zor, with convoys of 70 and 200 vehicles reportedly heading toward Erbil in northern Iraq, according to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

Related News

Trump mulls lifting Syria sanctions, hopes for 'fresh start'

Syria, Turkey, Jordan demand end to Israeli attacks

Strategic Repositioning

The Washington Post report was released hours after Israeli media reported growing alarm in Tel Aviv over the expected US adjustments. According to Yedioth Ahronoth, Israeli officials had already been notified of the plans and had tried unsuccessfully to persuade Washington to reverse course.

According to the Israeli outlet, security officials in Tel Aviv are concerned that the drawdown could lead to a power vacuum in northeastern Syria—one that Turkey might exploit. In particular, Israeli authorities warned that Turkish control over military installations such as the T4 airbase or Palmyra would cross red lines and threaten their operational freedom along the northern front.

Read more: 'Israel' needs to adapt to Turkey’s influence in Syria: Israeli media

On December 8, 2024, Damascus fell to armed opposition forces, leading to the resignation and exile of President Bashar Assad. In January, Ahmed Sharaa assumed the role of transitional president under a new administration.

The US repositioning cannot be understood in isolation. It aligns with Washington's broader regional posture, which includes massive arms transfers to "Israel" in preparation for a possible confrontation with Iran. Recent shipments of bunker-buster bombs, JDAM kits, and THAAD missile systems reinforce the US-Israeli axis as nuclear diplomacy falters. A senior US official told The Washington Post that the timing of the drawdown announcements is being coordinated around ongoing indirect negotiations with Iran, currently awaiting Omani facilitation.

In this context, Syria serves less as a battleground against terrorism and more as a strategic chessboard in the struggle to deny Iran territorial continuity from Tehran to the Mediterranean. The shifting US footprint is not a drawdown in intent—only in form.

  • Syria
  • United States
  • US occupation forces
  • Trump administration
  • Iran

Most Read

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu, senior Israeli official says

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu: Israeli media

  • US & Canada
  • 9 May 2025
Pakistan downs an Indian jet and hits a military base in Kashmir escalation.

Pakistan downs 3 Indian jets, hits military base in Kashmir escalation

  • Politics
  • 7 May 2025
A Yemeni gunman walks past paintings depicting rockets and scenes in solidarity with Gaza, displayed on a roadside fence in Sanaa, Yemen, Monday, May 5, 2025 (AP)

Oman brokers US-Yemen ceasefire, Israelis in dark regarding deal

  • Politics
  • 6 May 2025
Saree

Yemeni Armed Forces target key Israeli sites, USS Truman

  • MENA
  • 7 May 2025

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
US President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman greet delegations during an arrival ceremony at the Royal Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 13, 2025 (AP/Alex Brandon)
MENA

Trump pushing AI chip deals in Saudi, UAE trip

Raed Zaharna, right, and his sister Sally sit in their family tent after their mother, Ward, returned empty-handed from trying to receive donated food at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, May 9, 2025 (AP/Abdel Kareem Hana)
MENA

Gaza hunger crisis: Medecins du Monde condemns 'Israel'

FILE - This combo shows Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, left, pictured in Tehran, Iran, on Feb. 25, 2025 and Steve Witkoff, right, White House special envoy, pictured in Washington, on March 19, 2025. (AP Photos Stringer, Mark Schiefelbein)
Politics

Poll: Americans overwhelmingly prefer diplomacy with Iran

A person rides past the Google sign outside the Google offices in Sunnyvale, California, April 18, 2024 (AP/Terry Chea)
Technology

Google signed off on Project Nimbus despite warnings of misuse

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS