The Pentagon is drafting plans to withdraw all American troops from Syria following President Donald Trump’s expressed desire to do so, according to U.S. media reports.

NBC News, citing two unnamed defense officials, reported on February 5 that President Trump and his closest advisors have recently signaled their intention to pull U.S. forces from Syria. In response, the Pentagon has begun preparing withdrawal plans with potential timelines of 30, 60, or 90 days.

National Security Advisor Mike Waltz reportedly visited U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) headquarters in Tampa, Florida, on January 31, where he met with senior military officials to discuss the situation in the Middle East. However, a White House official said troop reductions in Syria were not the primary focus of Waltz’s visit or the discussions at CENTCOM. The Pentagon has declined to comment on the matter.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a key U.S. ally in Syria, stated they have not been notified of any American withdrawal plans.

Concerns Over IS Resurgence

“The Islamic State (IS) and other hostile forces are waiting for the U.S. to leave so they can regroup and do what they did in 2014,” said SDF spokesperson Farhad Shami.

IS controlled vast swaths of territory in Syria and Iraq starting in 2014. At its peak in January 2015, the extremist group held land roughly the size of the United Kingdom. However, U.S.-led coalition forces and their allies largely dismantled IS by 2019.

When asked last week whether the U.S. had informed Israel of an impending Syria withdrawal, President Trump did not provide a direct answer but hinted at a non-interventionist approach.

“We are not going to interfere in Syria,” Trump said. “Syria is already a mess. They have enough problems without us stepping into everything.”

The U.S. has maintained a troop presence in Syria for years, primarily to combat IS remnants and support local allies, including the SDF.

Potential Fallout of a U.S. Exit

In late 2019, Trump ordered then-Defense Secretary James Mattis to withdraw all U.S. forces from Syria, prompting Mattis to resign in protest. Although Trump later pulled back most U.S. troops, he later reversed the decision, sending forces back to the region.

As of December 2024, the Pentagon confirmed approximately 2,000 American troops remain stationed in Syria. Defense officials have warned that a full withdrawal could leave the SDF vulnerable and jeopardize the security of over 20 prisons and refugee camps, which currently house approximately 50,000 people, including around 9,000 IS fighters.

The SDF is responsible for securing these facilities but relies heavily on U.S. military and financial support to maintain operations.

(Sources: Reuters, NBC, Al Jazeera)

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