U.S. to Withdraw 1,000 Troops from Syria in Two Months

Is withdrawing U.S. troops from Syria the right move or a reckless abandonment of America's counterterrorism progress?

Published 9 hours ago

U.S. to Withdraw 1,000 Troops from Syria in Two Months

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Above: U.S. soldiers on patrol by the Suwaydiyah oil fields in Hasakah province, Syria, on Feb. 13, 2021. Image credit: Delil Souleiman/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-government narrative

With ISIS crushed, Assad's regime removed and Syria's new government stepping up as a valuable counterterrorism partner, the rationale for deploying troops indefinitely in Syria no longer stands the test of scrutiny. The administration, therefore, is correct in withdrawing U.S. troops and resources from the region, which can be deployed more effectively to serve the national interest.

Stars and Stripes Responsible Statecraft

Government-critical narrative

The Trump administration's decision to pull U.S. troops out of Syria is happening all too quickly, and with little consideration for the consequences. With ISIS prisoners escaping en masse and the new government's intentions questionable at best, withdrawing American soldiers would neuter U.S. influence in the country, potentially jeopardizing years of counterterrorism progress.

FDD

Jonathan Schanzer on X