The U.S. Department of Defense announced on Saturday plans to reduce the number of American troops deployed in Syria to fewer than 1,000 over the coming months.

The United States has maintained forces in Syria for years as part of international efforts to combat ISIS, which seized vast territories in Syria and neighboring Iraq more than a decade ago before facing defeats in both countries. Pentagon spokesperson Shaun Parnell stated in a statement, "The Secretary of Defense has today issued directives to consolidate U.S. forces in Syria (...) by selecting specific locations," without specifying those locations.

He added, "This measured and conditional process will reduce the number of U.S. troops in Syria to fewer than 1,000 American soldiers in the coming months." Parnell also noted that "as this consolidation occurs, in line with President Trump's commitment to peace through strength, U.S. Central Command will remain prepared to continue strikes against ISIS remnants in Syria," referring to the military command responsible for the region.

ISIS's 2014 offensive prompted the United States to launch an air campaign supporting local ground forces, including Iraqi government troops led by special operations and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Washington also deployed thousands of U.S. troops to advise and assist local forces, with American forces at times engaging directly in battles against extremists.

After years of bloody conflict, Iraq declared final victory over ISIS in December 2017, while the Syrian Democratic Forces announced the defeat of the group in March 2019 after capturing its last stronghold in Syria. Recently, areas in Deir ez-Zor and Hasakah in northeastern Syria have witnessed renewed security tensions with the resurgence of ISIS cells, which have carried out 13 attacks since early April 2025, targeting SDF forces and civilians, resulting in casualties, according to a statement issued by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on Friday.