The United States is completing the withdrawal of its military presence in Syria, ending an operation that lasted about a decade, officials said.
U.S. authorities reported that roughly 1,000 troops will be removed from the country. The military has already withdrawn forces from the Al Tanf garrison - a strategically located outpost near the borders of Syria, Jordan and Iraq - and from the Al-Shaddadi base in northeast Syria earlier this month.
Officials indicated that the remaining American personnel will depart other locations in Syria over the coming two months, completing the full pullout.
Officials and timeline
According to statements from U.S. officials, the pullback has proceeded in phases with key positions already vacated. The decision to withdraw forces follows consideration of a broader drawdown that became public in January, when reports indicated that U.S. policymakers were weighing a complete exit from Syria.
Separation from other regional deployments
Officials stressed that this decision to remove ground forces from Syria is not linked to ongoing U.S. naval and air deployments elsewhere in the Middle East. Those naval and air assets remain positioned so they could conduct strikes if negotiations over Iran's nuclear program fail. The officials noted that the deployments in the region serve a different, separate purpose from the troop withdrawals on the ground in Syria.
Regional security context
U.S. officials also cited potential regional risks tied to the Iran situation. Iran has threatened to retaliate against American troops in the region in the event the United States carries out airstrikes. Officials framed the current posture - a withdrawal of ground forces from Syria alongside continued naval and air readiness - as distinct but contemporaneous developments.
The unfolding withdrawal marks the end of a mission that spanned roughly a decade and will conclude as the remaining forces leave Syrian locations within the specified two-month window.