Why It Matters:
The report was released while Syria, after Bashar al-Assad, was in chaos due to the presence of Turkish-backed forces and bombardments by Israel.
The Big Picture:
President Donald Trump and officials close to him recently expressed interest in pulling US troops out of Syria, the officials said. That prompted the Pentagon to begin drawing up plans for a full withdrawal in 30, 60 or 90 days.
The Pentagon said in December 2024 that there are about 2,000 US military personnel in Syria.
What He Is Saying:
Trump previously told reporters that Washington should not deal with the problems of Syria. He said the US will consider withdrawing US troops from the Middle Eastern country.
Between the Lines:
Last Thursday, a reporter asked Trump at an Oval Office media event about reports he had informed the Israeli government about pulling U.S. troops out of Syria. “I don’t know who said that. I mean, I don’t know who said that, but we’ll determine that. We’re not getting, we’re not involved in Syria,” Trump replied. “Syria is its own mess. They got enough messes over there. They don’t need us involved in everyone.”
The Israeli broadcaster Kan reported that senior US officials made it clear to Israel that Trump is interested in pulling US troops out of Syria.
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