by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
(Worthy News) – Washington is considering a complete withdrawal of American troops from Syria following the rapid collapse of the U.S.-backed Kurdish-led militia in the country’s northeast, according to U.S. officials, according to a Wall Street Journal exclusive.
The potential pullout would end a decade-long U.S. military mission that began in 2014 under former President Barack Obama to combat ISIS. It comes as Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa moved to consolidate control over territory previously held by the Syrian Democratic Forces, ordering the group to disband after a swift government-backed offensive.
Roughly 1,000 U.S. troops remain in Syria, primarily in the northeast alongside the SDF, with a smaller contingent at the Al Tanf garrison in the south. Their core mission has been preventing an ISIS resurgence and overseeing detention facilities holding thousands of ISIS fighters.
Pentagon officials are now questioning the viability of that mission after Syrian forces seized key bases, oil facilities, and border crossings, forcing the SDF to relinquish major cities including Raqqa and Deir Ezzour. U.S. officials told the Journal that if the SDF fully disbands, there would be little justification for continued American presence.
Concerns also center on the composition of Sharaa’s forces, which U.S. officials say include jihadist sympathizers and individuals with alleged ties to al Qaeda and ISIS. Tensions have already escalated, with U.S. forces reportedly shooting down a Syrian government drone near an American position during recent clashes.
Another factor accelerating withdrawal discussions is the fate of ISIS detainees. The U.S. has begun transferring thousands of prisoners to Iraq, reducing one of the main reasons for keeping troops in Syria, analysts told the Journal.
President Donald Trump, who previously ordered a near-withdrawal in 2018, has publicly praised Sharaa’s efforts while reiterating U.S. support for the Kurds, noting their partnership with Washington was also driven by their own interests.
The Pentagon declined to comment on the report, and the White House did not immediately respond.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
More Worthy News
Reverend Jesse Jackson, the influential civil rights campaigner and former presidential hopeful described by his family as “a servant leader,” has died at age 84.
Senate Republicans say they have enough support within their 53-member conference to pass the SAVE America Act, but overcoming a Democratic blockade may require reviving the rarely used “talking filibuster.”
The U.S. Departments of Energy and Defense have transported a small nuclear reactor by military cargo aircraft for the first time, marking a significant milestone in President Donald Trump’s push to expand advanced nuclear energy across the country.
President Donald Trump on Monday directed federal authorities to step in and coordinate cleanup efforts following what he called a “massive ecological disaster” in the Potomac River after a major sewer line collapse in Maryland.
A large Second Temple–era stone workshop that supplied Jerusalem’s Jewish population some 2,000 years ago has been uncovered on the eastern slopes of Mount Scopus, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced Monday.
The United States has moved to replenish its stockpile of GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker-buster bombs, it was revealed this week, as tensions with Tehran remain elevated.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Sunday that Israel will not accept any arrangement allowing Hamas to retain weapons, warning that the terror group must fully disarm or face a renewed Israeli military campaign in Gaza.