A White House official has informed that the US is preparing to withdraw the remaining American troops from Syria in the coming months, writes the British broadcaster BBC.
The official noted that the Syrian government has committed itself to fighting terrorism within its borders, and therefore a large US military presence is no longer necessary. US soldiers have been in Syria since 2015, and are operating as part of a counter-terrorism campaign to combat the influence of the Islamic State group.
The decision was made at a time when US President Donald Trump is increasing the American military presence in the Middle East, and tensions in relations with Iran continue to rise. The White House official noted that the plan to withdraw the remaining approximately 1,000 troops from Syria is based on the situation, and the US remains ready to respond to any threat in the region.
BBC Verify has confirmed the location of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln near Iran.
The US has also reportedly sent the world’s largest warship, the USS Gerald R Ford, to the Middle East
and is expected to arrive in the region within the next three weeks.
US national security officials told CBS News, citing Trump, that the US military would be ready to strike targets in Iran as early as the 21st of February, but the president has not yet made a final decision.
American soldiers have already left two Syrian military bases at the beginning of the year. The government of Bashar al-Assad fell in 2024, the Islamic State has been weakened, and the overall security situation in Syria has improved significantly. Since Assad’s fall, the Trump administration has been looking for ways to strengthen diplomatic ties with Syria. The new Syrian President, Ahmad al-Shara, visited the White House last November, marking the first time a Syrian leader has made an official visit to the United States.
Read also: Possible US strike on Iran: seven scenarios
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