US begins withdrawing hundreds of troops, closing bases in Syria: Report

The United States has begun withdrawing hundreds of troops from northeastern Syria, the New York Times (NYT) reported Thursday.

Citing two senior U.S. officials, the report said the military is closing three of its eight small operating bases in the region and reducing troop levels from about 2,000 to roughly 1,400.

The officials said American commanders will reassess the situation after 60 days to determine whether further reductions are necessary. One official added that commanders have recommended maintaining at least 500 troops in Syria.

U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly voiced “deep skepticism” about keeping U.S. forces in the country. In late January, Trump responded to a question about potential troop withdrawals by saying, “I don’t know who said that, but we’ll make a determination on that. We’re not involved in Syria. Syria is in its own mess. They’ve got enough messes over there. They don’t need us involved.”

According to the NYT, the drawdown—initiated Thursday—is based on recommendations from ground commanders to consolidate and close bases. The Pentagon and U.S. Central Command have approved the reductions.

Ten years in, US military presence in Syria

The U.S. military first deployed troops to Syria in 2014 as part of an international coalition to combat the Daesh terror group. At the height of the campaign, U.S. troop levels in Syria ranged between 2,000 and 2,500. Those numbers have shifted over the years due to changing strategic priorities and partial withdrawals.

A Pentagon report from late 2024 indicated that approximately 2,000 American personnel remained in Syria at the time.

The U.S. presence in Syria has remained a contentious issue throughout Trump’s presidency. Previous attempts to withdraw troops were met with resistance from military leaders and lawmakers concerned about regional stability and the resurgence of extremist groups.

Trump’s early effort to exit Syria in 2019

In a significant policy move in 2019, Trump ordered a withdrawal of U.S. forces from northern Syria, triggering bipartisan criticism in Washington and prompting several senior defense officials to resign.

Despite the reduction in force, the U.S. has continued operations in eastern Syria—particularly near key oil infrastructure—and has maintained a presence at the strategic al-Tanf garrison near the Jordanian border. The contingent includes mechanized infantry and armored units focused on counterterrorism operations and deterring adversarial activity.

The drawdown comes amid a dramatic shift in Syria’s political landscape. Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s regime leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime groups seized control of Damascus on Dec. 8, effectively ending the Baath Party’s rule, which had been in power since 1963.

Trump, who ran his 2024 campaign on promises to end “forever wars,” reiterated his position ahead of the January 2025 inauguration.

“Syria is its own mess. They got enough messes over there. They don’t need us involved in everyone,” Trump said in January. “We’re not getting—we’re not involved in Syria.”