The United States plans to withdraw its remaining troops from Syria within the next two months, reports AFP.
The official explained that Syrian authorities have committed to assuming primary responsibility for counterterrorism operations inside the country, making a US military presence “at scale” unnecessary, reports BBC.
Around 1,000 American troops are still deployed in Syria, where US forces have operated since 2015 as part of an international effort to weaken the Islamic State group (IS).
This shift comes as President Donald Trump increases American military deployments across the Middle East amid rising tensions with Iran. While troops are being drawn down in Syria, the administration has emphasised that the move is a conditions-based transition and that the US remains prepared to respond swiftly to regional threats.
At the same time, American military activity near Iran has intensified. BBC Verify has confirmed that the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, accompanied by guided missile destroyers and numerous fighter jets, is currently positioned close to Iran.
Reports also indicate that the USS Gerald R Ford, the largest warship ever built, is en route to the Middle East and expected to arrive within three weeks.
US national security officials told CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, that Trump said American forces could be ready to carry out strikes against Iran as early as Saturday, though a final decision has not yet been made.
In Syria, the US military had already vacated two installations earlier this year: the al-Tanf garrison in the south and the al-Shaddadi base in the north-east.
These developments follow the fall of the Assad government in 2024 and a significant decline in Islamic State capabilities, alongside notable improvements in the country’s overall security situation.
Since that time, the Trump administration has worked to rebuild diplomatic relations with Damascus and deepen cooperation with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
In November, Sharaa visited Trump at the White House, marking the first visit by a Syrian leader in US history.
Although Sharaa’s administration has faced periodic confrontations with local armed factions, it reached an agreement in January to fold the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces into Syria’s national military.
Last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani to discuss efforts to uphold the ceasefire. During the meeting, Rubio also raised concerns about the ongoing fight against terrorism.
Security risks remain. In December, a translator and two members of the Iowa National Guard were killed during an ambush by a lone IS attacker in Palmyra, according to the Pentagon.
In response, the Trump administration launched a series of operations targeting IS, known as Operation Hawkeye Strike.
