The United States will significantly scale back its military presence in Syria, reducing its bases from eight to just one, according to Thomas Barrack, the newly appointed special envoy to Syria and US ambassador to Turkiye.
In an interview with Turkish broadcaster NTV, Barrack said the move reflects a shift in Washington’s approach, acknowledging that “past Syria policies over the last 100 years have not worked.”
Currently, around 2,000 US troops remain in Syria, primarily in the northeast, working with local allies to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State (IS) group. Military equipment and personnel have reportedly begun consolidating from eastern Deir el-Zor to the Hasakah province.
Barrack’s comments come amid a broader reset in US-Syria relations, following the ousting of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December. The US has since reopened its ambassador’s residence in Damascus under new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, raising the American flag there for the first time since 2012.
The decision signals a major pivot from counterterrorism operations to diplomatic engagement, with a narrower military footprint in the region.