For information regarding the involvement of the US-led coalition forces in Syria prior to November 2024, see section 1.3.4. of the EUAA COI Report Syria – Security Situation (October 2024).
Soon after the downfall of the Assad government, the US administration of former President Joe Biden held initial meetings with the country de facto leader, Ahmad Al-Sharaa,537 and the newly appointed Syrian de facto foreign minister, Asaad Al-Shibani.538 As a result of these talks, the bounty on Al-Sharaa was removed539 but not his designation as a terrorist.540
According to the US Department of Defense, as of December 2024, there were around 2 000 US troops in the country.541 The US administration of former President Joe Biden maintained that the US would continue its deployment in northeastern Syria, where they act in support of the SDF as part of a mission to defeat ISIL.542 As the United States viewed a possible ISIL resurgence as a challenge to US interests in Syria, US forces conducted multiple strikes on 8 December 2024 as a signal of continuing determination to prevent such a resurgence.543 Further individual strikes by the US-led coalition on ISIL targets continued well into the second half of December 2024.544
In December 2024 and January 2025, there were also multiple reports of forces of the US-led Global Coalition transporting troops or military and other equipment to reinforce their military bases in Hasaka (including those in Qasrik,545 Al-Shaddadi,546 Kharab Al-Jeir,547 Tal Baydar548), Raqqa,549 and Deir Ez-Zor (Koniko Gas Field and Al-Omar Oil Field)550 and as part of their efforts to strengthen existing bases and to set up a new base in the Ain Al-Arab area (Aleppo governorate).551 Moreover, the US-led Global Coalition and the SDF conducted joint military exercises at the Koniko Gas Field base (Deir Ez-Zor) and Qasrik base552 and intensified military patrols in Deir Ez-Zor and Raqqa.553
However, current President Donald Trump and government officials close to him have since voiced their interest in pulling US forces out of Syria, with two US defence officials quoted as saying by NBC News in early February 2025 that the Pentagon had started to design plans for a complete withdraw of US troops from Syria.554
- 537
INSS, A New Era in Syria: Winners, Losers, and Implications for Israel, 12 January 2025, url; Al Jazeera, What is behind US strategy of keeping troops in post-Assad Syria?, 6 January 2025, url
- 538
Al Jazeera, What is behind US strategy of keeping troops in post-Assad Syria?, 6 January 2025, url
- 539
INSS, A New Era in Syria: Winners, Losers, and Implications for Israel, 12 January 2025, url
- 540
NPR, Turkey expected to play a major role in Syria following fall of the Assad regime, 27 December 2024, url
- 541
USDOD, DOD Announces 2,000 Troops in Syria, Department Prepared for Government Shutdown, 19 December 2024, url; Al Jazeera, US says it has 2,000 troops in Syria, not 900 as previously declared, 19 December 2024, url
- 542
Al Jazeera, What is behind US strategy of keeping troops in post-Assad Syria?, 6 January 2025, url
- 543
USIP, Assad is Gone – But the Fight for Syria May Have Just Begun, 9 December 2024, url
- 544
USDOD, Operation Inherent Resolve And Other U.S. Government Activities Related to Iraq & Syria: Lead Inspector General Report to the United States Congress October 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024, 19 February 2025, url, pp. 12-13
- 545
SOHR, Ground reinforcements | “International Coalition” brings military equipment to base in Al-Hasakah, 18 January 2025, url; SOHR, New reinforcement | US forces continue to reinforce their bases in Al-Hasakah countryside and Ain Al-Arab, 4 January 2025, url
- 546
SOHR, Ground reinforcements | “International Coalition” brings military equipment to base in Al-Hasakah, 18 January 2025, url; SOHR, Boosting military bases | Three cargo planes lands in Coalition base in Al-Shaddadi, 16 January 2025, url; SOHR, New reinforcement | US forces continue to reinforce their bases in Al-Hasakah countryside and Ain Al-Arab, 4 January 2025, url
- 547
SOHR, Carrying advanced weapons | US cargo plane lands in Kharab Al-Jeir base in Al-Hasakah, 19 January 2025, url; SOHR, Boosting military bases | Three cargo planes lands in Coalition base in Al-Shaddadi, 16 January 2025, url; SOHR, New reinforcement | International Coalition bring in military supplies to Al-Hasakah countryside, 19 December 2024, url; SOHR, New reinforcements | US cargo plane lands in “Kharab Al-Jeir” base in Ramilan in Al-Hasakah, 14 December 2024, url
- 548
SOHR, New reinforcement | US forces continue to reinforce their bases in Al-Hasakah countryside and Ain Al-Arab, 4 January 2025, url
- 549
SOHR, New reinforcements | “International Coalition” Forces bring military equipment to bases in Syria, 30 December 2024, url
- 550
SOHR, New reinforcements | “International Coalition” Forces bring military materials to Deir Ezzor and bases in Al-Hasakah, 22 December 2024, url
- 551
SOHR, Preparations for establishing new base | US forces bring in cement blocks to Ain Al-Arab (Kobani), 2 January 2025, url
- 552
SOHR, To raise combat readiness | “International Coalition” and “SDF” conduct military exercises in Deir Ezzor, 15 January 2025, url
- 553
SOHR, Deir Ezzor | US patrol roams in villages on eastern countryside, 23 December 2024, url
- 554
NBC News, Defense Department drafting plans to withdraw all U.S. troops from Syria after recent Trump comments, 5 February 2025, url