Trump weighs US troop withdrawal from Syria
US troops patrol near oil wells in al-Qahtaniyah in Syria’s northeastern Hasakah province, close to the border with Türkiye, June 14, 2023. (AFP Photo)
U.S. President Donald Trump is considering whether to withdraw U.S. military forces from Syria, the White House said Friday.
“He, as the Commander in Chief of the United States military, reserves the right to review troop deployments overseas at any point in time,” White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters.
When asked if the matter is a subject of ongoing deliberations, Leavitt confirmed, “Yes.”
Trump said Thursday he “will make a determination” regarding the American forces stationed in Syria to bolster counter-Daesh efforts.
“We’re not involved in Syria. Syria is in its own mess. They’ve got enough messes over there. They don’t need us involved,” Trump said.
Israel’s official public broadcaster, Kan, reported Tuesday that “senior White House officials conveyed a message to their Israeli counterparts indicating that President Trump intends to pull thousands of U.S. troops from Syria.”
A Pentagon announcement in December revealed that about 2,000 U.S. troops are currently deployed in Syria, approximately 1,100 more than previously disclosed.
