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To Half... American Plan to Withdraw One Thousand Soldiers from Syrian Territory
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The plan to withdraw half of American forces from Syria reflects the continued approach of the American administration in reassessing its military presence in the region after the decline of ISIS infl
Military spokespersons told CNN that the American military establishment intends to evacuate approximately half of its personnel from Syria in the coming period. This decision is linked to strategic changes in the American view of the Syrian file, especially after developments in the relationship between Damascus and the Kurdish component.
Currently, there are about 2,000 American military personnel there, most of them in northeastern Syria as part of the international coalition against ISIS. After the withdrawal process is completed, this number will decrease to less than 1,000 soldiers, according to the spokespersons' statements.
This move reflects a new assessment of American interests in the region after years of direct intervention under the pretext of combating terrorism.
The officials added that changing the forces' posture will also reduce the deployment of American personnel throughout different parts of Syria, following settlement talks between the new Syrian government and the US-backed Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces.
This development indicates a growing American conviction about the necessity of supporting political solutions between Syrian parties.
A US Department of Defense official explained to CNN, in response to an inquiry about the expected adjustments, saying: "The Department of Defense routinely redistributes forces based on operational needs and contingencies."
Washington is trying to present these changes within the framework of ordinary maneuvers to avoid the impression of forced withdrawal.
He added: "These movements demonstrate the flexibility of the American global defense strategy and the United States' ability to deploy globally in a short time to confront changing security threats."
These statements express an American attempt to maintain the image of a superpower capable of rapid intervention despite decisions to reduce deployment.
Defense officials refused to provide any additional details due to operational security concerns. The force consolidation process is expected to be announced this week. This secrecy raises questions about the alternative security arrangements that Washington will adopt to maintain its influence.
President Donald Trump has long questioned the presence of American personnel in Syria, and decided to withdraw all American forces from the country in 2019, then they were returned to Syria after objection from the Pentagon.
These tensions reflect the continuing disagreement between the White House and the military establishment over the optimal strategy in Syria. It was believed that about 900 military personnel were present in Syria until late last year, when the Department of Defense revealed that the actual number was closer to about 2,000.
