America begins a partial withdrawal from Syria and closes some military bases.

The United States has begun a surprising step to reduce its military presence in northeastern Syria, a move considered by observers as a significant shift in its strategy in the region. According to a report by The New York Times, the U.S. Army started withdrawing hundreds of its troops deployed there on Thursday, amid preparations to close three of its eight military bases. The withdrawal process is expected to reduce the number of U.S. forces from about 2,000 soldiers to around 1,400, with a reassessment planned in the next two months to consider the possibility of further reductions. American field commanders, who recommended this step, emphasized the need to reinforce some bases and maintain a military presence of at least 500 soldiers, especially in the face of escalating security threats. Their recommendations were approved by the U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) and the U.S. Central Command, considering security and operational considerations on the ground. The remaining forces, including elements of special forces, will continue to support the Syrian Democratic Forces in counterterrorism missions and manage detention camps holding ISIS members. According to sources cited by the newspaper, the organization carried out hundreds of attacks last year, indicating an increase in its activity compared to 2023. It is noteworthy that this withdrawal comes just months after Washington announced doubling its ground forces in Syria at the end of last year, a step aimed at confronting ISIS threats, along with attacks carried out by Iran-backed factions coinciding with the war in Gaza. The newspaper also reported that the United States informed Israel of its intention to completely withdraw its forces from Syria within two months, raising questions about the implications of this decision on security and political balances in the region. At the same time, a new political agreement is being implemented in Syria, inviting the Syrian Democratic Forces to integrate their civilian and military institutions within the unified Syrian state by the end of this year, including control over oil and gas fields. Since the new authorities in Syria, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, took office in December last year, the government has been trying to unify the complex factional landscape in the country, but stability remains elusive amid ongoing security disturbances. All these movements depict a new scene of American presence in Syria, raising questions about whether Washington is on its way to reshaping its regional priorities.