US soldiers stationed in Syria [AFP Yonhap News]

It has been reported that the United States has begun the process of withdrawing all of its approximately 1,000 troops stationed in Syria.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 18th (local time), citing a senior official from the Donald Trump administration, that the US military has already begun its withdrawal from key bases in Syria.

The remaining troops are also scheduled to be withdrawn in stages over the next two months.

Consequently, the US military operation in Syria, which began with the establishment of its first base in 2015 and has continued for over a decade, is effectively entering its final phase.

This decision is reportedly based on the Trump administration's assessment that the necessity of US troop presence in Syria has diminished.

Until now, the US military has been cooperating with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an armed group led by the Kurds, in operations to defeat the extremist group Islamic State (IS).

However, following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's dictatorial regime in December 2024 and the de facto conclusion of the civil war, cooperation with the Syrian government forces began.

Furthermore, it is assessed that the US military's role has been reduced as the SDF agreed to a ceasefire that includes absorption and integration into the Syrian regular army, with whom they had been in conflict.

Accordingly, the United States recently completely withdrew from the al-Tanf base, a key US stronghold in Syria, and handed it over to the Syrian government forces.

A Trump administration official explained, "The Syrian government is leading counter-terrorism operations," and added, "The US military will maintain its capability to respond to IS-related threats that may arise in the region even after withdrawal."

However, some express concerns that the withdrawal of US troops could affect the balance of power in Syria.

It is suggested that if the US military presence diminishes, the ceasefire between the Syrian government and the SDF could be broken, or IS could seek opportunities for resurgence.

This is not the first time President Trump has ordered the withdrawal of US troops from Syria.

During his first term, in 2018, he also ordered the complete withdrawal of US troops after declaring military victory over IS.

However, at that time, such an order faced strong opposition within the administration, and it was ultimately resolved by leaving hundreds of troops behind.

After the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a large-scale terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the United States had at one point increased its troop presence in Syria to around 2,000, but recently reduced it by about half.

Syrian government forces [EPA Yonhap News]