The Wall Street Journal revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is considering a complete withdrawal from Syria by reducing military presence while assessing the security and political implications. The newspaper quoted officials saying that Syrian government forces had approached American positions, noting that clashes prompted moves to support local partners. This comes amid fears of extremist groups returning and the transfer of thousands of detainees to Iraq.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the Trump administration is studying scenarios to reduce its military presence in Syria, ultimately leading to a full withdrawal. U.S. officials said ongoing deliberations include multiple options, with evaluations of the impact on efforts to combat ISIS, the security balance in northern and eastern Syria, and relations with regional allies.

The report noted that no final decision has yet been made, and discussions remain tied to security and political assessments, including the future of coordination with local forces, risks of extremist resurgence, and broader calculations regarding America’s role in the Middle East.

The newspaper added that rapid developments over the past week led the U.S. Department of Defense to question the viability of the mission in Syria, following setbacks for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), according to three American officials.

Officials reported that Syrian government forces dangerously approached U.S. positions during operations against the Kurds, with U.S. forces shooting down at least one drone near one of their facilities. One official added that within 24 hours, Syrian forces attacked SDF barracks inside a base that also housed U.S. personnel.

At the same time, the Syrian government ordered the SDF — Washington’s longtime military partner in the region — to dissolve itself, according to the newspaper.

Such a move would end a U.S. operation that has lasted a decade in Syria, beginning in 2014 with former President Barack Obama’s intervention in the war.

It is worth noting that U.S. forces had previously withdrawn from several smaller military sites in northern and eastern Syria, in steps described at the time as repositioning, as part of a gradual reduction of military presence while maintaining strategic sites linked to counter‑ISIS missions and support for Kurdish local partners.

On Wednesday, the United States began transferring about 7,000 detainees out of 9,000 to Iraq, amid fears that former fighters and their families might escape as government forces moved to take control of detention facilities.

An official added that around 200 prisoners escaped last week from al‑Shaddadi prison after SDF forces withdrew from their positions, before Syrian forces recaptured them following their takeover of the facility.