-
Trump's Victory Raises Questions About Fate of U.S. Forces in Syria
-
Analysis of Trump's previous Syria policies reveals a volatile pattern in decisions, oscillating between military withdrawal and maintaining strategic interests

Spotlight turns to Syria's future after Republican candidate Donald Trump's defeat of Democratic rival Kamala Harris in U.S. presidential elections, especially given the ambiguity of his policies toward the war-torn country.
Syrian-American researcher Wael Al-Sawah, member of the Advisory Council for the Syria Program at the American "Middle East Institute" for Near East Studies, stated that "Trump's positions on any issue are subject to two factors: his personal mood and pursuit of self-interest. Therefore, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s statements regarding Trump's concern about American soldiers becoming 'cannon fodder' in conflicts between Turkish forces and Kurdish fighters reflect his intention to withdraw forces and reduce military engagement."
Al-Sawah explained that the president-elect's vision centers on reducing U.S. military presence, ignoring those forces' strategic importance in combating ISIS, warning of potential implications for regional stability.
The Syrian affairs expert indicated that Trump hadn't taken a decisive stance against the Syrian regime's president in the past, likely continuing this approach in the future, but expected his support for Israel in its efforts to reduce Iranian influence in the region.
Nawaf Khalil, director of the Kurdish Center for Studies, reported that "the United States realizes more than anyone the danger of ISIS, whether regarding its approximately 12,000 members detained by SDF or their families' presence in Al-Hol and Roj camps, where their children threaten journalists with slaughter, for example, under the pretext that they're not wearing hijab."
Khalil ruled out U.S. withdrawal from Syria, recalling Trump's previous experience in 2019 when he felt deceived by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, prompting him to reverse the force withdrawal decision.
The Kurdish Center director addressed the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria's strategy in maintaining balanced relations, noting SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi's congratulations to Trump and emphasis on continuing cooperation to fight ISIS.
Notably, about 900 U.S. soldiers are present in Syria within the international coalition fighting ISIS, where Trump tried to withdraw them in 2019, before retreating under advisers' pressure and redeploying them.
Levant-Al Arabiya
You May Also Like
Popular Posts
Caricature
BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
opinion
Report
ads
Newsletter
Subscribe to our mailing list to get the new updates!