US stands firm on troop withdrawal from Syria, defying Israeli requests

The Trump administration has rejected Israeli requests to keep additional US troops in northeast Syria, despite Israel’s concerns about Türkiye’s growing influence in the region.

Eric Trager, US President Donald Trump’s Middle East chief at the National Security Council, reportedly told Israeli and Syrian officials that the US is shifting from a "military to political role" in northeast Syria, and that the planned drawdown of American troops would continue, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

"Israel is opposed to the US withdrawing from northeast Syria," one former US official said.

"They want to see the US extract concessions from Türkiye on demilitarisation before any American boots leave Syrian soil."

The decision comes amid growing US frustration with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). A regional official explained that the reduction in US troops is a warning to the SDF, signaling that the US is serious about its transition plan, which emphasizes integration with the Syrian government in Damascus. "The reduction in US troops is a warning to the SDF that not enough progress is being made with Damascus and that the US is serious about this transition," the official added.

In response, the SDF signed a deal with the Syrian government last month to begin integrating its civilian and military institutions. Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, whose former rebel group overthrew Bashar al-Assad’s government in December, is closely aligned with Türkiye in the ongoing geopolitical struggle for influence in Syria.

Charles Lister, head of the Syria Initiative at the Middle East Institute, explained that the US is focusing on helping the SDF withdraw from regions like eastern Aleppo and Deir Ezzor. "An SDF integration into Syria is now the foremost priority for the US," Lister said, noting that "it’s eastern Syria that will be first to integrate."

Despite the US plan to withdraw, Türkiye’s presence in Syria has raised concerns. Türkiye, which views the SDF as a Kurdish extension of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party), has launched several military offensives into Syria since 2016 to curb Kurdish influence. The US has long backed the SDF in the fight against ISIS, but its alliance with the Kurds has strained relations with NATO ally Türkiye.

Tensions in Syria are also increasing between Israel and Türkiye. Türkiye has become the strongest external force in Syria, positioning itself in opposition to Israel, which has conducted airstrikes against Turkish interests.

While Israel has continued to push for a US military presence in Syria, President Trump has expressed a willingness to acknowledge Türkiye’s sphere of influence, particularly after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "I have great relations with a man named [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan," Trump said. "Any problem you have with Türkiye, I think I can solve it as long as you are reasonable."

The changing US stance on Syria, coupled with its focus on integrating the SDF into the Syrian government, signals a shift in American priorities in the region. As the US prepares to reduce its military footprint, Syria’s new government is working to demonstrate its capacity to address regional security concerns, including those of Israel and the US.

By Vafa Guliyeva