By Abdulsalam Khoja
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Despite reports of the Pentagon preparing plans for a withdrawal from Syria, experts suggest that the U.S. has yet to make a decisive move.
The prevailing security vacuum, military chaos, lack of clear direction in Damascus, and the ongoing threat posed by the Islamic State (ISIS), along with the fate of thousands of its detainees held in prisons run by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), all weigh heavily on Washington’s decisions.
So what about the fate of its ally, the SDF? Will Washington withdraw and leave behind this chaos after 11 years of military presence in Syria, especially amid past statements from former President Trump and electoral promises to bring American troops home?
Hazem Alghabra, a politician and former advisor at the U.S. State Department, states that there is no definitive American decision regarding the presence or withdrawal of troops from Syria. He shares this view with Iraqi political analyst Ibrahim al-Sarraj, who also believes there is no intention to withdraw at the moment.
Challenges, key players
Speaking to North Press, Alghabra explains that the situation in Syria is entirely different from other regions where the U.S. military is present. He highlights that the American presence in Syria involves confronting multiple challenges, including Turkey’s influence, the ongoing ISIS threat, Iran’s regional ambitions, and the uncertainty surrounding the Syrian government in Damascus.
Alghabra describes a U.S. withdrawal from Syria as a “complicated issue,” emphasizing that there is a “delicate balance of power in the region that cannot be disrupted at this stage.”
Strategic balance
Iraqi political analyst Ibrahim al-Sarraj argues that the U.S. military presence in Syria is part of the strategic balance in the region.
In a voice statement to North Press, al-Sarraj explains that the continued American presence is driven by several factors, “most notably providing cover for Israeli operations in Syria, both ground and air. Additionally, the strategic importance of southern Syria, which Israel seeks to annex, aligns with U.S. interests,” he claims.
Al-Sarraj believes that U.S. forces also play a role in countering Turkish and Russian influence in the region, as well as serving as a pressure card against other actors, such as the transitional government of Ahmed Sharaa in Damascus.
Warnings
American political analyst Alghabra warns that any U.S. withdrawal could lead to significant problems, including risks for its allies in northern Syria and potential chaos in prisons housing ISIS detainees.
Meanwhile, al-Sarraj insists that the situation on the ground in Syria necessitates the continued presence of U.S. forces. He asserts that “the United States has a clear strategy in the region and is not considering leaving Syria.”
On Feb.7, the Commander in Chief of the SDF, Mazloum Abdi, stated that ISIS is exploiting the security vacuum left by the Syrian regime in the desert region to stockpile weapons and establish strategic positions.
Currently, around 900 U.S. troops remain in Syria as part of a joint mission with the SDF to combat ISIS.