Two US officials told Reuters on Tuesday that the US military is preparing to integrate its forces in Syria in the coming weeks and months, a move that could reduce their numbers by half.
One official, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that this merger could reduce the number of troops in Syria to approximately 1,000. Another US official confirmed the reduction plan but said there was no certainty about the numbers and was skeptical about such a large reduction at a time when the Trump administration is negotiating with Iran and amassing its forces in the region.
Yedioth Ahronoth quoted unnamed sources as saying, "American security officials informed the Israeli security establishment that the gradual withdrawal of American forces from Syria will begin within two months." The newspaper added, "Israel tried to prevent the American withdrawal from Syria, but has now been informed that its efforts have failed." However, the Israeli security establishment "is still pressuring Washington" to keep its forces in Syria, according to the newspaper.
The newspaper considered US President Donald Trump's efforts to withdraw his country's forces from Syria "not surprising," adding that "Trump declared from the outset his desire to withdraw US soldiers from the region, as part of his administration's isolationist approach, which is partly influenced by his Vice President J.D. Vance."
The Pentagon has long been preparing plans to withdraw its forces from Syria, but is now preparing to move into the implementation phase, while keeping Israel informed of developments, according to the newspaper.
Yedioth Ahronoth reported that "in discussions between the two parties (Washington and Tel Aviv), Israeli representatives expressed their deep concern about the repercussions of this move." It quoted an unnamed senior Israeli official as saying that "US forces are deployed in several strategic areas in eastern and northern Syria, which constitutes a stabilizing factor," he claimed.
As of 20:00 GMT, no official comment has been issued by the concerned parties regarding what the newspaper reported.
During his first term, Trump attempted in 2018 to withdraw all US forces from Syria, prompting then-Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis to resign.
Since 1967, Israel has occupied most of the Syrian Golan Heights. It exploited the situation in Syria after the fall of the Syrian regime, occupying the Syrian buffer zone and declaring the collapse of the 1974 disengagement agreement between the two sides.
Although the new Syrian administration, led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, has not threatened Tel Aviv in any way, Israel has been launching almost daily airstrikes on Syria for months, killing civilians and destroying Syrian military sites, vehicles, and ammunition.
On December 8, 2024, Syrian factions took control of the country, ending 61 years of the bloody Baath Party regime and 53 years of rule by the Assad family, including 20 years during which Bashar al-Assad ruled (2000-2024).
For years, the United States said there were about 900 American troops in Syria, but the Pentagon admitted last December that the number had risen to about 2,000 troops concentrated in eastern Syria.