US rebuffs Israeli push to keep troops in northeast Syria: Report

The United States has reportedly rejected Israeli efforts to prevent the drawdown of American forces in northeast Syria, according to current and former officials who spoke to Middle East Eye (MEE).

“Israel is opposed to the US withdrawing from northeast Syria,” one former U.S. official told MEE. “They want to see the US extract concessions from Türkiye on demilitarisation before any American boots leave Syrian soil.”

The Trump administration’s decision is aimed at shifting from a military presence to a political role in the region.

Eric Trager, Middle East advisor at the National Security Council, told Israeli and northeast Syrian officials that the troop reduction would proceed as planned, despite lobbying efforts.

The U.S. had approximately 2,000 troops in Syria as of December, a number expected to fall below 1,000 in the coming months.

US frustrated by SDF’s slow integration into Syrian government

A regional official told MEE that U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has expressed frustration with the slow pace of integration between the SDF and the Syrian government.

The SDF, backed by the U.S. since 2014 in the fight against Daesh, recently signed an agreement with Damascus to merge civilian and military structures. SDF, an umbrella group that includes the YPG.

The YPG is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK, which has been designated as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union.

The PKK has been involved in a four-decade-long armed campaign against Türkiye, resulting in over 40,000 deaths, including civilians.

“The reduction in US troops is a warning to the SDF that not enough progress is being made with Damascus and that the US is serious about this transition,” the official told MEE.

Pentagon: Conditions-based reduction to under 1,000 troops

The Pentagon stated the reduction would follow a deliberate, conditions-based process. Despite Israeli concerns, the U.S. plans to pull out first from eastern Aleppo and later from Deir el-Zour.

“Recognizing the success the United States has had against Daesh terror group, including its 2019 territorial defeat under President Trump, today the Secretary of Defense directed the consolidation of U.S. forces in Syria under Combined Joint Task Force—Operation Inherent Resolve to select locations in Syria,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement.

“This deliberate and conditions-based process will bring the U.S. footprint in Syria down to less than 1,000 U.S. forces in the coming months,” Parnell said.

Charles Lister of the Middle East Institute noted that SDF integration is now Washington’s priority. “It’s eastern Syria that will be first to integrate,” he said.

US begins withdrawing hundreds of troops in Syria

The New York Times reported Thursday that the U.S. has started a significant drawdown of its forces in Syria, citing two senior officials. According to the report, the number of operating bases in the northeast is being reduced from eight to five, and troop levels are dropping from approximately 2,000 to 1,400.

The withdrawal comes amid a dramatic shift in Syria’s political landscape. On Dec. 8, opposition groups seized control of Damascus, causing regime leader Bashar al-Assad to flee to Russia and ending the Baath Party’s decades-long rule.

The U.S. military first deployed troops to Syria in 2014 as part of an international coalition to combat the Daesh terror group. At the peak of the campaign, U.S. troop levels in Syria ranged from 2,000 to 2,500. These numbers have fluctuated over the years due to changing strategic priorities and partial withdrawals.

A Pentagon report from late 2024 indicated that around 2,000 American personnel remained in Syria at the time.