US leaders are thinking about pulling all of their soldiers out of Syria now. Officials in the Defense Department are making plans for this possible move.
The recent discussions about pulling out the troops were a result of a recent statement that was made by the president. This was not discussed openly during a visit by a newly appointed adviser. He was at a military base in Florida to learn more about the Middle East. However, Israel or Jordan's leader visited the White House and claimed that Syria is a mess and should not have troops.
Trump’s predecessor, Mattis, was initially against this idea. Mattis thought troops were needed to fight the ISIS group and help the allies.
The Pentagon later explained that doubled the number of troops than previously known. Plus, they said that the additional forces were only temporary. They also mentioned that the presence of troops in Syria was to keep ISIS from regaining power. The soldiers also support the local groups who work to keep ISIS under control.
A critical question was raised by the defense officials, is that the withdrawing of troops will put the safety of prisoners and camps at risk. This means that thousands of ISIS fighters could potentially escape if the US troops leave. This could have a disastrous effect on the region and the US.
In December, there was a surprise move by rebel forces known as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. They were able to overthrow Bashar al-Assad’s regime. He was the leader in Syria. They even met with representatives from the US a few months ago. The leader of the group even stated that there will be a new government with elections in four years, but this raises concerns about the stability of the country.
The future of Syria is uncertain. The country is torn apart by different groups and it is unclear how the US will handle their involvement. The situation is complex and it is hard to predict what will happen next. It is important to think critically about the decisions that are being made and the impact they will have on the region.
