The United States military has made plans to withdraw 600 soldiers from northeastern Syria, shrinking the troop size to around 1,400. The reductions were discussed by American commanders on the ground and approved by the Pentagon, according to a report by the New York Times on April 17.

U.S. troops were originally in the region to help combat the Islamic State (ISIS) in 2014. After rebel groups ousted the decades-long Assad regime in December, American troop size was increased to 2,000 in order to combat the resurgence of ISIS in the southeastern region, deep in the Syrian desert. 

According to the New York Times, U.S. intelligence officials say that ISIS will try and take advantage of instability in the country as the newly created Syrian Interim Government tries to assert its control. The terror group will also try to free the nearly 10,000 prisoners being held in northeastern Syria by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Moreover, other threats like Iran and Russia have been greatly diminished due to the fall of the Assad regime, giving confidence to American officials. 

The United States has been urged by senior officials like Charles Lister, head of the Syria Initiative at the Middle East Institute in Washington D.C., to support the government. 

He says that if the current government succeeds in unifying the country, then “ISIS and all other malign actors will be dealt mortal blows.” 

The interim government just recently reached an agreement with the Kurds in northeastern Syria, demonstrating their commitment to improving stability.    

In October of 2019, President Trump ordered a withdrawal of soldiers from the region entirely and failed to do so in his first term because he was perceived as deserting American allies. 

American commanders have recommended keeping the troop size above 500. However, it is likely that a complete removal of American troops transpires depending on the interim government’s progress with stabilizing the country.