US to withdraw from Syria bases, retain one in al-Hasakah
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The US plans to downsize its military footprint in Syria, while continuing to influence the country’s future through political and military pressure.
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US soldiers patrol near a prison in al-Hasakah, Syria, February 8, 2022. (AP)
The United States will significantly reduce its military presence in Syria, scaling back from eight bases to a single site in al-Hasakah province, according to US Special Envoy Thomas Barrack. Speaking to Turkish broadcaster NTV on Monday, Barrack described the move as part of a broader Syria policy shift.
“Our current Syria policy will not be close to the Syria policy of the last 100 years, because none of these have worked,” he said.
Barrack, recently appointed by US President Donald Trump, also serves as the US ambassador to Turkey. His dual appointment follows the abrupt removal of sanctions on Syria and reflects Washington’s recalibrated strategy in the region.
Currently, approximately 2,000 US troops remain in Syria, mostly in the northeast. However, two security sources told Reuters that the US military has already withdrawn hardware from Deir Ezzor, consolidating operations in al-Hasakah.
One source confirmed that the plan involves a full Deir Ezzor military pullout. A State Department official, speaking separately, said troop levels would be “adjusted if and when appropriate,” depending on field conditions.
Barrack emphasized that the base reduction was “crucial to reshaping America’s presence in Syria and the wider region".
US withdraws 500 troops from Syria as Trump backs rebel recruitment
This comes shortly after Fox News reported on June 2 that the United States has significantly reduced its military presence in Syria, withdrawing approximately 500 troops over recent weeks.
According to US officials cited by Fox News, American forces have vacated three key installations, including Mission Support Site Euphrates, now under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and Mission Support Site Green Village, which has been shut down entirely.
This reduction follows a Pentagon directive issued in April, outlining plans to cut the US military footprint in Syria from roughly 2,000 to fewer than 1,000 troops.
Former HTS militants incorporated into new Syrian army
In a related development, President Donald Trump's special envoy to Syria, Thomas Barrack, has endorsed a proposal by the transitional government to incorporate thousands of former HTS militants into the new Syrian army.
The plan involves enrolling up to 3,500 former militants, primarily Uyghurs and other foreign fighters, into a newly formed 84th Division. US officials view this initiative as a pragmatic measure aimed at neutralizing extremist threats by integrating disbanded fighters into a centralized chain of command.
However, the decision has raised concerns internationally, particularly in China, as many of the fighters are linked to the Turkistan Islamic Party, a group Beijing designates as a "terrorist".
Diplomatic signals have reportedly accompanied the military drawdown. Barrack raised the American flag at the US ambassador’s residence in Damascus last week, the first such gesture since 2012.
A photograph released by the Turkish Foreign Ministry on May 24 shows Barrack meeting with al-Sharaa in Istanbul.
SDF’s future tied to 'national integration'
A key question surrounding the US military withdrawal from Syria is the future of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Barrack affirmed their continued strategic importance, particularly to the US Congress.
“They are a very important factor,” he claimed, adding that it was vital to guide the SDF toward integrating with the new Syrian national structure.
“Directing them to integrate into a new Syrian government was also very important,” he added, while urging all sides to maintain “reasonable” expectations.
The SDF, which includes the YPG militia, remains a point of contention for Turkey. Ankara considers the group an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has been designated a terrorist organization by the Turkish state.
The situation has evolved following the PKK’s recent announcement of its disbanding, marking the end of a four-decade-long insurgency. Nonetheless, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticized the SDF for “stalling tactics", despite its declared commitment to join the Syrian national armed forces.
Read more: 'We have common enemies', says al-Sharaa on relationship with 'Israel'
Wider context
In December 2024, the Pentagon acknowledged a significant and previously undisclosed increase in the number of US occupation troops in Syria, raising questions about Washington’s long-term military objectives in the country. The revelation came amid renewed scrutiny of US activities in Syria, including reports of smuggling stolen Syrian oil and covert operations targeting the government of then-President Bashar al-Assad.
At the time, Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder confirmed that approximately 2,000 US forces were stationed in Syria, more than double the previously stated figure of 900. Ryder claimed that the additional forces, drawn from both conventional and special operations units, had been deployed for “months” to support alleged operations against ISIS. He described the troop increase as “temporary", without providing a timeline for reduction.
The first US military deployment in Syria began in late 2015, officially under the pretext of combating ISIS. However, the nature and scope of the mission have evolved significantly since then.
Although US officials continue to claim that the troops are present to “rid the region of terrorists,” recent events and reporting suggest that the US occupation in Syria is aimed at securing control over strategic resources and maintaining influence in key areas.
In parallel to the troop increase, US forces smuggled a new consignment of stolen Syrian oil into northern Iraq back in April 2024. According to reports, a 45-tanker convoy transported crude from the al-Jazeera oil fields via the illegal al-Mahmoudia crossing, underlining long-standing accusations that US troops are engaged in systematic looting of Syrian natural resources.
The then-Syrian Foreign Ministry estimated the financial toll of such activities at over $25.9 billion in direct losses and more than $86 billion in indirect damages.
Stealing Syrian oil
Adding to the contention surrounding the US illegal occupation of Syrian regions, a report by The Telegraph in late 2024 revealed that the US had trained and armed the so-called Revolutionary Commando Army (RCA), a group composed of defectors from the Syrian Arab Army. The RCA was positioned to lead an offensive aimed at removing the al-Assad government, with US Special Forces reportedly briefing them just before the December 8 overthrow of the Syrian regime.
The RCA operated from the al-Tanf region, a strategic area near the Syria-Jordan-Iraq border. US occupation troops maintain a base there, citing anti-ISIS operations as their mission. However, analysts argue that the location allows Washington to project power and maintain leverage in southern Syria.
Aside from oil smuggling, US bases in eastern Syria have come under fire from local resistance. In November, a rocket strike targeted the US occupation base at the Conoco gas field in Deir Ezzor, reportedly in retaliation for US aggression on the cities of al-Mayadin and al-Bukamal.
Former US President Donald Trump once openly acknowledged the motive behind maintaining American forces in Syria, “We’re keeping [Syria’s] oil. We have the oil. The oil is secure. We left troops behind only for the oil.” His statement reinforced longstanding suspicions that US occupation forces in Syria serve broader strategic and economic purposes, including the destabilization of the previous Syrian government.
Read more: US shifts Syria strategy to curb Iran, not rebuild nation: WashPo
