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 said on Friday that Russia is using territory in neighbouring Belarus to support attacks on Ukrainian targets ...
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said he ordered a military strike targeting Islamic State (ISIS/Daesh) militants in Nigeria to be delayed by one...
At least eight people were killed and 18 others injured in an explosion at the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib mosque in the Wadi al-Dhahab neighbourhood of Ho...
Russian attacks on the cities of Kharkiv and Uman on 25–26 December 2025 killed at least two people and injured 14, local authorities reported....
The 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, held in Tianjin, China, has been hailed as one of the most significant gatherings in the bloc...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that Russia is using territory in neighbouring Belarus to support attacks on Ukrainian targets and to circumvent Kyiv’s defensive positions, warning that the practice undermines Belarusian sovereignty.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said he ordered a military strike targeting Islamic State (ISIS/Daesh) militants in Nigeria to be delayed by one day, calling the attack a “Christmas present” to the terror group.
At least eight people were killed and 18 others injured in an explosion at the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib mosque in the Wadi al-Dhahab neighbourhood of Homs on Friday, Syrian authorities said.
Russian attacks on the cities of Kharkiv and Uman on 25–26 December 2025 killed at least two people and injured 14, local authorities reported.
In 2025, Ukraine lived two parallel realities: one of diplomacy filled with staged optimism, and another shaped by a war that showed no sign of letting up.
It’s been a year since an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, killing 38 people. Relatives and loved ones mourn the victims, as authorities near the final stage of their investigation.
Polish fighter jets on Thursday intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying near Poland’s airspace over the Baltic Sea and escorted it away from their area of responsibility.
The United States carried out a strike against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria at the request of Nigeria's government, President Donald Trump and the U.S. military said on Thursday.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he will meet U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday to discuss territory and security guarantees, as diplomatic efforts intensify to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The move is intended to combine digital innovation and long-term infrastructure planning with further modernise urban mobility while strengthening the country’s position as a key transit hub across Eurasia.
Foreign aid and its political implications are at the centre of public debate in Georgia with mayor of Tbilisi Kakha Kaladze echoing U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's stance on USAID.
Jeyhun Bayramov expressed concerns regarding the Russian Investigative Committee’s decision to close the criminal case related to the AZAL airplane crash.
Iran has rolled out a test vending of imported premium at market price in Tehran to address the country's domestic petroleum consumption deficit.
In 2025, Azerbaijan made notable strides in its foreign policy with the country's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said on Friday.
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