Pentagon to Wind Back US Troop Footprint in Syria

The U.S. military became involved in Syria in the early 2010s amid the country’s civil war and the rise of ISIS.

U.S. Army soldiers load a CH-47 Chinook helicopter in support of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve near Al-Tanf Garrison, Syria, on Oct. 29, 2024. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Mahsima Alkamooneh

The Pentagon is preparing to downsize the U.S. military footprint in Syria in the coming weeks, citing recent successes against the ISIS terrorist group.

On April 18, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell announced what the Department of Defense is characterizing as a planned consolidation of U.S. forces in Syria. Parnell said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered this force reduction plan.