American ally SDF: Not yet notified of US plan for Syria withdrawal

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), led by Kurds, stated that they have not received any notification regarding the U.S. military's planned withdrawal from Syria, despite reports indicating that the U.S. military is developing relevant plans. This announcement underscores the uncertainty surrounding the future of U.S. involvement in the region.

SDF spokesman Farhad Shami made the above comments hours after U.S. media reported the plan. The armed group is a key ally in the U.S.-led coalition fighting ISIL (ISIS) in the region, controlling large swathes of northeastern Syria, about one-third of Syrian territory. This partnership is crucial for maintaining stability and combating terrorism in the area.

Shami stated, "Of course, ISIS and other malicious forces are waiting for an opportunity for the American withdrawal to reactivate and return to the state of 2014." This highlights the potential security risks and the resurgence of terrorist activities if U.S. forces were to withdraw prematurely.

Earlier in the day, NBC News, citing two unnamed Pentagon sources, reported that U.S. President Donald Trump's administration was developing plans to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria within 30, 60, or 90 days. The potential timeline for withdrawal adds to the complexity and urgency of the situation.

Last week, Trump was directly asked about the possibility of a withdrawal, and he said his administration would "make a decision on that." He stated, "Syria is their own mess. They've got enough messes there already. They don't need us involved in every single one." This reflects Trump's "America First" foreign policy approach.

Trump has vowed to pursue an "America First" foreign policy, predicated on ending U.S. military engagements abroad. He initially pushed to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria during his first term from 2017 to 2021. He abandoned the plan due to opposition within his own government, with officials warning that the fight against ISIL would backslide and that abandoning the region's Kurdish allies would have repercussions. This shows the internal debates and considerations within the U.S. government regarding its strategy in Syria.

But speculation about the future of U.S. troops in Syria has resurfaced after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown in December by a rebel alliance led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). HTS leader Ahmed Shala'a has since become the interim leader of Syria. The change in Syrian leadership has created new uncertainties about the role of external actors in the country.

Following Assad's overthrow, former U.S. President Joe Biden's administration has remained adamant that U.S. troops will remain in Syria to prevent an ISIL resurgence. ISIL once controlled large parts of Syria before being defeated in 2019. The Pentagon said in December that approximately 2,000 U.S. military personnel remained in Syria. That number is a notable increase from the roughly 900 troops Washington has said were there in recent years. The U.S. first deployed troops to Syria in 2014. The continued presence of U.S. troops underscores the commitment to preventing the resurgence of ISIL.

The Trump administration has publicly pledged to continue to combat ISIL militants in the region. Analysts have also warned that a blanket freeze on foreign aid has further increased instability risks by cutting some administrative and security funding to Kurdish militants overseeing ISIL prison camps in Syria. The financial constraints on Kurdish forces could weaken their ability to maintain security in the region.

The question of the future of American soldiers in Syria after Assad's fall comes amid a broader realignment in the region. This highlights the interconnectedness of various geopolitical factors in shaping the future of Syria.

On Tuesday, Shala'a met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara. Turkey has long opposed Assad and supported the rebel offensive against him. Ankara also views several Kurdish groups in Syria, including the People's Defense Units (YPG), as "terrorists." The YPG forms a large part of the SDF's military wing, and fighting between the group and Turkish-backed Syrian National Army has been ongoing since Assad's fall. The meeting between Shala'a and Erdogan signals potential shifts in alliances and strategies in the region.

Speaking alongside Shala'a at a news conference, Erdogan vowed that Turkey would play a greater role in combating ISIL and Kurdish militants. He thanked Shala'a for his "firm commitment" to "fighting terrorism." For his part, Shala'a pledged greater cooperation with Turkey "to guarantee permanent security and stability." This indicates a potential alignment of interests between Turkey and the new Syrian leadership.

Shala'a added, in an apparent reference to the SDF, that he and Erdogan discussed "preventing threats to the territorial unity of northeastern Syria." The Syrian leader rejected any form of Kurdish autonomy and urged the SDF to hand over its weapons and join a unified government. This reflects the ongoing tensions and competing visions for the future of Syria.