Apr 18, 2025 - World

U.S. slashing military presence in Syria

Colin Demarest

Two armored U.S. military vehicles are parked in a Syrian desert. Two American flags are seen blowing in the wind. — U.S. military vehicles are parked near al-Tanf garrison, Syria, during an exercise in 2023. Photo: Terry Vongsouthi/DVIDS

The U.S. will shrink its military footprint in Syria over the coming months, bringing troop levels below 1,000.

Why it matters: President Trump tried to pull all American forces from the war-ravaged country during his first term.

Along with Turkey, Iran and Russia, the U.S. is one of several foreign powers with a foothold in Syria as the country rebuilds after the fall of dictator Bashar al-Assad.

The latest: Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell announced the reduction Friday afternoon, citing "the significant steps we have made toward degrading ISIS' appeal and operational capability regionally and globally."

Zoom in: Three small operating bases in northeast Syria will be shuttered, the New York Times reported Thursday.

Yes, but: There's significant buildup elsewhere in Central Command, which oversees military operations across the greater Middle East.

Aircraft carriers Carl Vinson and Harry S. Truman are launching warplanes to combat Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Patriot air defenses were shifted to the region, away from the Indo-Pacific.
And B-2 bombers were dispatched to Diego Garcia, an island in the Indian Ocean.

By the numbers: The Pentagon in December disclosed there were roughly 2,000 troops in Syria — far more than the widely known 900.

Go deeper: Trump and Biden on Syria: Maybe not so different

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U.S. slashing military presence in Syria

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