Former CENTCOM Commander Urges Caution Amid Reports of U.S. Withdrawal from Syria
By Kardo Roj
WASHINGTON, U.S. (North Press) –
General (Ret.) Joseph Votel, former Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), has urged American policymakers to approach any potential withdrawal from Syria with patience, deliberation, and a clear understanding of regional dynamics, warning that a rushed exit could endanger local partners such as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
His comments came during a webinar hosted by the New Lines Institute just days after reports emerged about a possible U.S. military pullback from northeast Syria, where American forces have supported the SDF in the enduring fight against ISIS.
Withdrawal Is Not Afghanistan, But Risks Remain
Votel, who oversaw coalition military operations in Syria during his tenure, drew comparisons to the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. He emphasized that while the situation in Syria is less dire, any departure still carries significant risks.
“Our departure there will cause concern for our partners, for civilians that live in the north and eastern part of Syria and derive stability from our presence and relationship with the SDF,” Votel said, noting that such concerns must inform strategic planning.
He reminded listeners that retrograde operations are inherently among the most dangerous military maneuvers. “Withdrawing forces is when the risk is normally the highest… when the opportunities are greatest for our adversaries,” he added.
Lessons from Past Withdrawals
Drawing on previous drawdowns in Iraq and Syria, Votel underscored the importance of setting operational, logistical, and relational conditions before any troop reduction.
“In 2019, we reduced the size of our forces in Syria and did it in a deliberate fashion without causing spikes in violence,” he noted, though he acknowledged that strong communication with the SDF and interagency coordination were crucial in achieving that outcome.
Votel emphasized three pillars for any future withdrawal: effective communication with partners like the SDF, setting comprehensive operational conditions, and executing the drawdown in a phased, deliberate manner.
The SDF and Regional Security
Although Votel refrained from political commentary, his remarks clearly acknowledged the SDF’s importance in maintaining security in northeast Syria.
He highlighted that the U.S. military leadership must “inform the process” at all levels—strategic, tactical, and political—when planning troop reductions. “It was critical for us to inform our partners on the ground exactly what we were doing,” he said, referring to the 2019 reduction.
Looking Ahead: Stability at Stake
Votel’s cautionary stance arrives at a moment of renewed uncertainty for Syria’s northeast, where ISIS remnants continue to pose a threat and Turkish-backed factions maintain pressure on the region’s peripheries. The SDF, supported by the U.S. and the Global Coalition, remains the main counterterrorism force in the region.
Any sudden shift in U.S. posture, analysts warn, could disrupt this fragile balance and expose civilian populations and partner forces to renewed insecurity.