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BREAKING
Iranian MP Alireza Salimi: The Shura Council has approved a resolution to suspend Iran’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Political aide to the governor of Gilan Province in northern Iran: Air defenses in Rasht shot down a small hostile drone flying over the city
Israeli media: The presence of General Qaani at the “victory celebrations” in Tehran puts an end to the rumors and earlier reports claiming he had been assassinated
Israeli media: There is division within the US administration itself over the extent of what the strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities actually achieved
Israeli media: US intelligence also says Iran’s centrifuges remained largely intact
Israeli media: Netanyahu and Trump celebrated too soon, as US intelligence says Iran’s uranium stockpile was not damaged
Israeli Channel 13: The objectives set by Netanyahu for the operation against Iran have not been achieved
Early US intel assessment suggests strikes on Iran did not destroy nuclear sites, CNN reports, citing sources
Israeli media platform: An additional soldier has been confirmed killed in the serious incident in Gaza, who had previously been considered "missing" for some time
Pezeshkian: History will not forget how Iran’s enemies broke their pledges and agreements, resorting to aggression and invasion even during negotiations

US withdraws 500 troops from Syria as Trump backs rebel recruitment

  • By Fox News
  • Source: Agencies
  • 2 Jun 2025 23:45
  • 1 Shares
2 Min Read

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.

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  • AP
    US military convoy drives near the town of Qamishli, north Syria, Saturday, Oct. 26. 2019. A US convoy of over a dozen vehicles was spotted driving south of the northeastern city of Qamishli, likely heading to the oil-rich Deir el-Zour area where there are oil fields, or possibly to another base nearby. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, also reported the convoy, saying it arrived earlier from Iraq. (AP Photo/Baderkhan Ahmad)

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.

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.

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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.

Normalization push

Efforts toward US-Syria normalization are also progressing. In a landmark moment, President Trump met with President al-Sharaa during a summit in Riyadh, the first such encounter between US and Syrian leaders in a quarter-century.

Trump reportedly pledged to ease sanctions and explore avenues for diplomatic normalization, asserting that "Syria deserves a chance at peace". Following this meeting, the long-shuttered US ambassador's residence in Damascus was reopened, signaling a thaw in relations between Washington and Syria.

Read more: US flag raised in Damascus as envoy declares new chapter in Syria ties

Despite these developments, challenges persist. Critics warn that integrating ex-HTS militants could backfire if not carefully managed, and that the transitional government's ability to maintain stability remains uncertain.

Furthermore, the decision to incorporate former extremists into the national army has raised alarms in international circles, particularly in China, due to the fighters' links to terrorist-designated groups.

  • Syria
  • US occupation forces
  • Ahmad al-Sharaa
  • US troops in Syria
  • HTS

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