U.S. Officials Say America Will Withdraw All Troops from Syria

On February 18 local time, a CCTV reporter learned that three U.S. officials revealed that the United States will withdraw approximately 1,000 troops from Syria, marking the end of a decade-long military operation in the country.

Two of the officials stated that U.S. forces completed the withdrawal from the strategic location of Tanf, located at the tri-border area of Syria, Jordan, and Iraq, as well as the Shaddadi base in northeastern Syria earlier this month. The officials also indicated that U.S. forces will withdraw from the remaining bases within the next two months.

The officials stated that this withdrawal is unrelated to the current U.S. military deployment in the Middle East to respond to potential strikes following the collapse of nuclear negotiations with Iran. Iran has threatened that if the U.S. conducts airstrikes, it will retaliate against U.S. forces stationed in the region. The U.S. has assembled a large fleet off the coast of Iran, including an aircraft carrier strike group, advanced jet fighters, and other warships. The second aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, is heading towards Iran. Two U.S. officials indicated that due to the near-total dissolution of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, the Trump administration has decided that there is no longer a need for a U.S. military presence in Syria.

In September 2014, the United States convened a coalition of multiple countries to form an international alliance to combat the "Islamic State," conducting airstrikes against "Islamic State" targets in Syria and Iraq. In 2015, the U.S. began deploying troops in Syria. Currently, most U.S. forces in Syria are stationed in the northeast, alongside the "Syrian Democratic Forces," with a small number stationed at the Tanf base in southern Syria. (CCTV reporter Cao Jian)