The United States is planning to withdraw its remaining 1,000 troops from Syria over the next two months, ending a decade-long military presence aimed at combating ISIS.

Remaining American forces, stationed at al Tanf in southern Syria and al Shaddadi in the northeast, are set to depart within two months, according to U.S. officials. The Wall Street Journal first reported the plan, marking the conclusion of a mission that began in 2015 to support an anti-ISIS coalition, including the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

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Operation Hawkeye Strike: US goes after ISIS in Syria after deadly loss| What we know so far

Changing Syrian landscape

The Assad government collapsed in late 2024, and the new Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former rebel leader, has renounced past ties with al Qaeda. Al-Sharaa’s government recently reached an agreement to integrate the SDF into Syria’s armed forces, altering the security dynamics that had necessitated a U.S. presence.

For years, U.S.-allied Kurdish forces provided security for prisons and refugee camps housing thousands of ISIS prisoners and their families. Earlier this month, the U.S. facilitated the transfer of 5,700 ISIS fighters from Syrian detention facilities to Iraqi custody.

The U.S. military has faced attacks from Iranian-backed groups and pressures from neighbouring Turkey, while isolated incidents, such as the December ambush that killed two Iowa National Guard members, underscored the ongoing risks. Operation Hawkeye Strike was launched in retaliation to target ISIS positions.

Historical context

President Trump’s first-term efforts to withdraw fully from Syria faced internal resistance, leading to Defense Secretary Jim Mattis’ resignation. While a small U.S. presence remained to support anti-ISIS operations, the full withdrawal is now being executed amid a transformed Syrian security environment.

The pullout marks the end of a ten-year American mission in Syria, as Washington shifts focus following changing political and military circumstances in the region.