The Trump administration will reduce the number of US troops in Syria from around 2,000 to approximately 1,000, officials said Tuesday, in a move signaling a shift in Washington’s military posture across the Middle East.
The Pentagon, which in December acknowledged a larger-than-disclosed troop presence in Syria, will also scale down the number of military bases in the country, according to Al Arabiya English.
A US defense official emphasized that the reduction is part of routine reallocation based on operational needs. “These movements demonstrate the flexible nature of the US global defense posture and our ability to deploy worldwide on short notice to meet evolving security threats,” the official said.
CBS News was the first to report the planned drawdown, which comes amid long-standing US cooperation with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) — a relationship seen as central to the fight against ISIS.
While specifics remain unclear, sources say Kurdish forces will continue overseeing prisons housing tens of thousands of ISIS fighters and their families. However, it’s uncertain how continued US support will look with a smaller footprint.
Outside Syria, the US maintains about 2,500 troops in Iraq, 3,500 in Jordan, and nearly 2,000 in Türkiye. It has not been confirmed where the redeployed Syria-based troops will be sent.
In a separate deal with Baghdad, the US had agreed to consolidate its presence in Iraq and reduce troop numbers. However, following Assad’s fall, Iraq has reportedly requested delays in the transition — a matter still under review, according to officials.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Azerbaijan for talks with President Ilham Aliyev, holding meetings in Gabala during a working visi...
Iran says no U.S. meeting is planned in Islamabad, despite Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arriving in the Pakistani capital. He is also set to vis...
Two men were killed after the United States carried out a missile strike on a suspected drug-trafficking boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Frida...
The United States has issued an international warning accusing Chinese firms, including AI start-up DeepSeek, of alle...
Argentina has reiterated its interest in resuming talks with the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands, a disputed...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Azerbaijan for talks with President Ilham Aliyev, holding meetings in Gabala during a working visit to the country.
Iran says no U.S. meeting is planned in Islamabad, despite Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arriving in the Pakistani capital. He is also set to visit Muscat and Moscow for regional consultations.
Two men were killed after the United States carried out a missile strike on a suspected drug-trafficking boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Friday (24 April), the military said.
The United States has issued an international warning accusing Chinese firms, including AI start-up DeepSeek, of allegedly stealing intellectual property from American artificial intelligence labs.
Two local trains collided head-on north of Copenhagen on Thursday (23 April), injuring 17 people, five of them critically, according to emergency services.
The U.S. military is redirecting at least three Iranian-flagged tankers after intercepting them in Asian waters near India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, shipping and security sources said on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Tehran said U.S. breaches, blockades and threats are undermining “genuine negotiations.”
Diplomatic efforts to end the Iran war are intensifying, with the White House confirming that U.S. President Donald Trump will send special envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner to Islamabad for talks with Iran under Pakistani mediation.
Russian emergency services have contained a major fire at the Tuapse oil refinery on the Black Sea coast, local officials said on Thursday, ending a four-day effort after a Ukrainian drone strike.
Argentina has reiterated its interest in resuming talks with the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands, a disputed archipelago in the South Atlantic, after reports that an internal Pentagon email suggested reviewing Washington’s support for the UK’s claim amid tensions over the Iran war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Azerbaijan for talks with President Ilham Aliyev, holding meetings in Gabala during a working visit to the country.
Around 14% of Central Asia’s population - about 12 million people - are facing food shortages, according to the United Nations. The issue was a central focus at the Regional Environmental Summit in Astana.
Türkiye sent six trucks carrying critical medical supplies to Iran on Thursday, reinforcing humanitarian assistance amid challenging cross-border conditions.
Afghanistan is exploring new business opportunities in cotton, tourism and minerals following trade and investment talks this week with officials from Uzbekistan and Türkiye.
Georgia is entering a pivotal economic and geopolitical phase, as talks with China to expand a free trade agreement coincide with renewed progress on the Anaklia Deep Sea Port.
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