U.S. to Withdraw All Troops from Syria: Report

The United States is withdrawing all of its troops from Syria, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.

The U.S. has maintained several military bases in Syria, originally established about a decade ago during the rise of the militant group Islamic State (ISIS).

ISIS emerged in 2014 amid Syria’s civil war, which began during the rule of former President Bashar al-Assad. Within a short period, the group seized vast territories across Syria and Iraq and declared a self-styled caliphate.

In response to the growing threat, the United States deployed troops to Syria in 2014 to help counter ISIS. At the peak of operations, around 2,000 U.S. troops were stationed in the country. Currently, approximately 1,000 American personnel remain at various bases.

According to the report, all remaining troops will be withdrawn gradually in the near future.

A senior official from the U.S. Department of Defense told The Wall Street Journal that ISIS continues to pose a threat to global peace and stability, and that U.S. forces remain prepared to respond to any resurgence of the group in the Middle East.

“When ISIS emerged in Syria, we deployed troops to assist in efforts to counter the group,” the official said. “But the situation has changed. Syria now has a more stable government, and the ISIS threat is no longer as strong as it once was.”

The official added that a first group of troops has already been withdrawn and that at least one military base has been handed over to Syrian authorities.

The move marks a significant shift in U.S. military policy in Syria, ending nearly a decade of on-the-ground involvement in the fight against ISIS.