The US Department of Defense announced its commitment to scale down its military mission in Iraq while concentrating efforts on combating remnants of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria.
Reuters reported on Wednesday, October 1, quoting a US official who requested anonymity, that under the plan, the US and coalition members will shift focus to targeting ISIS cells in Syria, relocating most of their forces to Iraq’s Kurdistan Region to carry out that mission.
At the beginning of 2025, the US had around 2,500 troops in Iraq and more than 900 in Syria as part of the international coalition formed in 2014 to fight ISIS during its takeover of large swaths of both countries, according to Reuters.
The official stated that once the relocation is complete, the total number of US troops in Iraq will drop to fewer than 2,000, with most stationed in Erbil. He added that the final figure has not yet been determined, without offering a specific timeline.
Remaining US forces in Baghdad will focus on bilateral security cooperation rather than counter-ISIS operations.
A senior military official told Reuters, “ISIS no longer poses a persistent threat to the Iraqi government or to America from Iraqi territory. This is a major achievement that allows us to transfer more responsibility to Iraq to lead its own security efforts.”
The agreement supports Baghdad’s government, which has long feared that American forces could destabilize the country and which has often faced attacks by Iran-aligned groups.
Last year, the US agreed with Iraq to leave Ain al-Asad airbase in western Anbar province and hand it over to Baghdad.
The American official said the relocation remains “in progress” but declined to provide further details.
Although the administration of President Donald Trump also prepared withdrawal plans from Syria, the official stressed that such a step depends on conditions, adding, “We remain in a status quo for now,” according to Reuters.
Washington remains concerned about the continued presence of ISIS fighters in Syria and the risk of thousands of detainees being released from prisons.
Partnership with Damascus
The commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), Admiral Brad Cooper, met Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on September 12. Cooper expressed appreciation for Damascus’ support in fighting ISIS and agreed with al-Sharaa to hold future meetings to strengthen security cooperation.
Cooper stressed that the US would continue to support the international coalition and all states committed to repatriating their nationals, noting that the aim is to “ensure the lasting defeat of terrorism and transform it into a legacy of peace and stability.”
On September 19, the US-led coalition, in coordination with Syrian General Security, carried out a “special security operation” in Jirjisa village in southern Hama countryside, killing senior ISIS commander Abdelqader Fatraoui.
According to Enab Baladi’s correspondent, Fatraoui had previously been imprisoned in Lebanon’s Roumieh prison on charges of ISIS membership before being handed over to Syrian authorities, who transferred him to the Palestine Branch and later to Sednaya Prison, until his release among detainees freed during the regime’s collapse.
Earlier, on August 20, coalition forces conducted a joint airborne operation with government forces in Atmeh, in northwestern Idlib province, killing an Iraqi ISIS commander. Five others were arrested and handed over to Internal Security Forces in Atmeh.
Separately, US forces targeted ISIS in al-Bab, in Aleppo’s eastern countryside, killing several members.
CENTCOM announced via X (formerly Twitter) on July 25 that it had conducted an airstrike in al-Bab, killing senior ISIS leader Dhiya’ Zawba Muslih al-Hardani and his two sons, Abdullah and Abdulrahman, both ISIS members.
Withdrawal from Syria
On April 17, The New York Times quoted US officials as saying that the American military had begun shutting down three of its smaller bases in northeastern Syria.
According to the report, the US also started pulling hundreds of troops from the area, reflecting changes in the security environment following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024.
The officials, described as senior, said the military would close three small operational bases in Syria, reducing the number of American forces from 2,000 to around 1,400.
The withdrawal included the “Green Village” support site (Conoco oil field), the “Euphrates” site (al-Omar oil field), and a third, much smaller facility not identified by the newspaper.
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