US troops leave Syria as military bases shut down in sudden move
The United States is withdrawing US troops from northeastern Syria amid growing scrutiny of its long-term military presence in the Middle Eastern nation, Middle East Eye via The New York Times reported on April 17th.
The US is reportedly closing three of its eight military bases in the region and cutting troop levels from roughly 2,000 to approximately 1,400.
The information comes from two senior US officials who are aware of the withdrawal process. US officials had for years stated that around 900 troops were in Syria to assist in the battle against the Islamic State group. In February, however, it was revealed that the number had increased to 2,000. Following this drawdown, a maximum of 1,400 troops will remain.
The reduction of troops comes at a time when the Syrian government is evolving. According to The Guardian, rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, took control of Idlib, which is a northwestern Syrian enclave, by ruling over two million people in 2017.
The exact number of US soldiers remaining in Syria is unclear, as independent verification has not been possible.
Al-Sharaa, who once led a group affiliated with Al Qaeda during the Syrian civil war, has recently taken steps to rebrand his leadership and engage with regional actors, including meeting with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.
Al-Sharaa has also called for the easing of international sanctions on Syria, the BBC reported on December 18th. He also expressed willingness to cooperate with the United States on the refugee crisis facing Syrians. However, HTS—the group he leads—remains designated as a terrorist organisation by the UN Security Council.
Middle East Eye via the New York Times, UN Security Council, BBC, The Guardian
