The US Department of Defense (Pentagon) made an important statement regarding its military presence in Syria, announcing that following the success achieved in the fight against ISIS, some bases in Syria will be merged and the number of troops will be reduced in parallel. Pentagon SözcüIn the official statement, Sean Parnell emphasized that this step is part of the strategy to reduce the regional and global influence of ISIS.
Sözcü “This consolidation reflects important steps we are taking to reduce the regional and global attractiveness and operational capability of ISIS,” Parnell said. “This deliberate and conditional process will reduce the U.S. footprint in Syria to less than 1000 U.S. forces over the coming months.” The Pentagon’s statement did not specify which of the eight bases it operates in Syria, but a U.S. defense official confirmed to The War Zone that U.S. forces would withdraw from Green Village Mission Support Area and Euphrates Mission Support Area. The source stated that this development is part of a gradual process of reducing the number of bases in Syria. This information is consistent with the withdrawal news reported by The New York Times in recent days.
US forces are mainly deployed in Syria in the northeastern part of the country. The main justification for this deployment is to support local forces against ISIS and prevent the organization from restructuring. However, ISIS suffered major territorial losses during US President Donald Trump’s first term and had almost no physical control left by 2019. There is also a strategic US base in the al-Tanf region in southern Syria, close to the Jordanian and Iraqi borders.
The Pentagon’s statement recalled that the international coalition against ISIS has made significant gains over the past decade and that the organization’s territorial integrity was destroyed in 2019. It was also noted that U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has conducted numerous airstrikes over the past year in an effort to further weaken ISIS’ capabilities and hinder its efforts to re-emerge. “U.S. Central Command remains ready to continue strikes against ISIS remnants in Syria. We will also work closely with capable and willing Coalition partners to maintain pressure on ISIS and respond to other emerging terrorist threats,” the statement said.
The Pentagon emphasized that the threat of terrorism is not limited to the Middle East, and that global vigil will be maintained to ensure that ISIS does not have a safe haven anywhere. The US’s determination to support the capacity of its partners in the region to further weaken ISIS and other terrorist groups was also expressed. It stated that the number of ISIS-affiliated individuals held in camps and detention centers in northeastern Syria should be reduced as a critical element in reducing ISIS’ power, and called on the international community to take back its citizens. This statement signals a transformation in the US military strategy in Syria, and shows that its engagement in the fight against terrorism will continue in a different form.
