A Pentagon official responded to reports regarding the potential withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and Syria. Sky News Arabia reported the official’s statement, noting that “there are no plans to change the size of the U.S. military presence in Syria and Iraq.” This comes in the wake of a report by Foreign Policy magazine, which, citing sources from the U.S. Departments of Defense and State, suggested that Washington was planning a complete withdrawal of its forces from Syria and discussing the manner and timing of this withdrawal.
Foreign Policy magazine described the potential impact of such a move as catastrophic for U.S. influence and its allies, pointing out that the crisis in Syria is not over and many issues remain unresolved. The United States currently deploys about 900 troops in Syria, most of whom are concentrated in the northeast. The U.S. states that “these forces play an effective role in preventing the resurgence of ISIS activity in the region.”
In Syria, there are 28 American sites, including 24 military bases and 4 points of presence. These have been subject to almost daily rocket attacks since October 17th, in the context of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.
The presence of U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria has been a contentious issue, with recent developments highlighting the ongoing challenges and threats in the region. U.S. troops stationed in these countries have faced a significant number of attacks, primarily from Iran-backed militias. Since the start of the Israel-Gaza war in October, these attacks have escalated, putting considerable pressure on the U.S. administration.
In Iraq, U.S. forces have been targeted about 150 times by these militias, with incidents such as the attack on Iraq’s Ain al-Asad air base resulting in traumatic brain injuries to U.S. personnel. The Pentagon has responded to these attacks with strikes on facilities used by the Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia group in Iraq. These strikes are seen as a direct response to the escalatory attacks against U.S. and Coalition personnel in both Iraq and Syria. The U.S. currently maintains approximately 2,500 troops in Iraq, mainly to assist local forces in preventing a resurgence of the Islamic State group.
In Syria, the situation is equally tense. The U.S. has around 900 troops deployed, primarily in the northeast region, to combat the remnants of ISIS. However, these troops have faced over 100 attacks since October, including incidents at the al-Tanf military outpost and other bases. These attacks have involved a mix of drones, rockets, mortars, and missiles, with some causing injuries to U.S. troops.
The situation has been further complicated by broader regional dynamics, particularly the Israeli military offensive in Gaza and its repercussions. This conflict has led to increased attacks on U.S. forces, perceived as being in support of Israel. For instance, Iranian-backed armed groups in Iraq targeted U.S. troops shortly after Tehran vowed revenge for an Israeli attack on a building in Damascus housing Iranian elite forces
