{"id":16107,"date":"2018-12-19T16:31:57","date_gmt":"2018-12-19T16:31:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/12\/19\/heres-what-may-be-driving-a-us-troop-withdrawal-from-syria\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T01:57:32","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T01:57:32","slug":"heres-what-may-be-driving-a-us-troop-withdrawal-from-syria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/12\/19\/heres-what-may-be-driving-a-us-troop-withdrawal-from-syria\/","title":{"rendered":"Here\u2019s what may be driving a US troop withdrawal from Syria"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reports of a total and immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria come amid heightening tensions \u2014 and growing risk of military confrontation \u2014 between the U.S. and Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.armytimes.com\/news\/your-air-force\/2018\/07\/26\/us-and-turkish-troops-coordinate-patrols-in-tense-manbij-region-of-syria\/\" target=_blank>Turkish forces<\/a> want to push their troops into Syria. The U.S.-backed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/2018\/11\/06\/turkey-joint-us-kurdish-patrols-in-syria-are-unacceptable\/\" target=_blank>Syrian Kurds<\/a> want to keep the Turkish forces out. And the U.S. has struggled for months to keep both players happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A confrontation between the U.S and Turkey, officially NATO allies, would create a geopolitical crisis at the heart of the world\u2019s most powerful military alliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2018\/12\/19\/troops-may-immediately-withdrawal-from-syria-as-trump-declares-victory-over-isis\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4815095.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Troops to immediately withdraw from Syria as Trump declares victory over ISIS<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Pentagon officials did not immediately confirm reports that Trump has ordered a total withdrawal of troops.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.armytimes.com\/news\/your-army\/2018\/11\/21\/the-us-military-is-putting-brand-new-observation-posts-in-northern-syria\/\" target=\"_blank\">Northern Syria<\/a> has been popping up in the news a lot over the past year, with periodic developments in a tangled web of paramilitary group acronyms and overlapping allegiances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Caught in the middle are an unknown number of U.S. troops \u2014 estimated to be around 2,000 \u2014 who man outposts in the region for the stated purpose of preventing a resurgence of the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/your-air-force\/2018\/10\/03\/last-pocket-of-isis-fighters-surrounded-dod-official-says\/?utm_source=clavis\" target=_blank> Islamic State<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, it\u2019s often said that U.S. forces play another role as well: preventing a clash between the Kurds and Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria would potentially cede control to Turkey, resolving tensions between the two NATO allies. However, the drawdown would also abandon the Kurds, who provide the backbone of the defeat-ISIS ground campaign. While ISIS is definitely routed from their physical caliphate, the group has the potential to re-group, and re-emerge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The dynamics among the U.S., Turkey and the Kurds aren\u2019t really that hard to explain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The U.S. has been backing a group of fighters called the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, in order to defeat ISIS. The SDF is a mix of ethnically Arab and Kurdish Syrian locals, but the Kurdish fighters definitely appear to dominate the SDF\u2019s chain of command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The SDF, with backing from U.S. ground forces, air and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.armytimes.com\/news\/your-army\/2018\/12\/11\/3rd-cavalry-regiment-soldiers-are-firing-intense-artillery-missions-into-syria-with-iraqi-french-allies\/\" target=\"_blank\">artillery strikes<\/a>, has won hard-fought victories over ISIS and has retaken almost all territory held by the terrorist proto-state in eastern Syria. This has netted the SDF considerable influence over towns and regions where they gained footholds, particularly in the country\u2019s northeast near Turkey\u2019s border.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2018\/12\/19\/trumps-syria-withdrawal-flies-in-the-face-of-statements-from-top-military-and-national-security-leaders\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP_18296822940376.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Trump\u2019s Syria withdrawal flies in the face of statements from top military and national security leaders<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Many top officials see the current Syria operations as necessary to ensure ISIS defeat.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s what <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/2018\/12\/17\/erdogan-positive-answers-in-call-with-trump-but-says-turkey-could-act-against-us-backed-syrian-kurds-anytime\/\" target=_blank>angers Turkish leaders<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To Turkey, the SDF\u2019s Kurdish fighters are replacing one security threat \u2014 ISIS \u2014 with another \u2014 the People\u2019s Protection Units, or YPG.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">YPG fighters are mostly Kurds, and they exist within the SDF coalition. The U.S. backs the YPG, and many westerners, often veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, went to fight alongside the YPG in their battle against ISIS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Turkey labels the YPG as a terrorist group. Turkey\u2019s president, Recep Tayyip Erdo\u011fan, claims the YPG is closely aligned with the Kurdistan Workers&#8217; Party, or PKK, another Kurdish militant group that operates inside Turkey and is considered a terrorist organization by both Turkey and the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The U.S. doesn\u2019t consider the YPG terrorists, but the Pentagon does acknowledge Turkey\u2019s frustration with the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTurkey has legitimate security concerns,\u201d U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said in <a href=\"https:\/\/dod.defense.gov\/News\/Transcripts\/Transcript-View\/Article\/1420752\/press-gaggle-by-secretary-mattis-en-route-to-indonesia\/\" target=_blank>January<\/a>. \u201c[Turkish leaders] have been very supportive of our Defeat-ISIS campaign, allowing us to use Incirlik [Air Base] to fly out of. &#8230; The area where we\u2019ve had disagreement [is] on our tactical collaboration with the Syrian Democratic Forces &#8230; a sizable percentage of which is YPG.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1542\" height=\"1024\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4807926.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36590\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4807926.jpg.jpg 1542w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4807926.jpg.jpg?resize=300,199 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4807926.jpg.jpg?resize=768,510 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4807926.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,680 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4807926.jpg.jpg?resize=1536,1020 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1542px) 100vw, 1542px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A U.S. soldier discusses the 240B machine gun to a group of Turkish soldiers during a rehearsal event Oct. 9, 2018, in Gaziantep, Turkey. (Staff Sgt. Timothy R. Koster\/Army)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After all, Mattis added, the PKK has carried out a several decades-long insurgency in Turkey\u2019s southeast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mattis has recognized that the YPG has had some historic connections to the PKK, but \u201cby having our officers and NCOs on the ground, we monitor that they are using what we are giving them for support to go against ISIS.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That support has allowed the U.S.-led coalition to crush <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/your-army\/2018\/12\/19\/troops-may-immediately-withdrawal-from-syria-as-trump-declares-victory-over-isis\/\" target=_blank>ISIS&#8217; physical caliphate<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/07\/26\/us-and-turkish-troops-coordinate-patrols-in-tense-manbij-region-of-syria\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"157\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4571553.jpg_5d8c8a.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">US and Turkish troops coordinate patrols in tense Manbij region of Syria<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">U.S. and Turkish troops have been conducting \u201ccoordinated independent patrols\u201d along the demarcation line north of Manbij since June 18, officials from U.S. Central Command said this week.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt has cost them [the Kurds] thousands of casualties, but you have watched them, with the coalition support, shred ISIS&#8217; caliphate in Syria,\u201d Mattis added. \u201cI mean, that\u2019s a matter of arithmetic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The U.S. has played the back-and-forth game with Turkey over support for the Kurds for more than a year. And every time tensions appear to be cooling, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/2018\/09\/30\/turkey-accuses-us-of-failing-to-abide-by-deal-on-syrian-town\/\" target=\"_blank\">Erdogan inflames them once again<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If Turkey follows through on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/2018\/12\/12\/turkey-vows-military-operation-against-us-backed-kurdish-militia-in-syria\/\" target=_blank>recent promises to push into northern Syria<\/a>, it wouldn\u2019t be the first time. Erdogan sent Turkish armored units and used local proxy forces to push <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/2018\/03\/18\/turkey-says-its-forces-have-seized-the-syrian-town-of-afrin\/\" target=_blank>Kurdish fighters from Afrin<\/a>, in Syria\u2019s northwest, earlier this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The U.S. didn\u2019t put up much of a fight to stop that offensive, mainly warning that such a move was distracting Kurds from their fight against ISIS. But U.S. forces weren\u2019t present in Afrin. They are in Manbij, which lies in Syria\u2019s northeast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"831\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP18305447794811.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36596\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP18305447794811.jpg.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP18305447794811.jpg.jpg?resize=300,208 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP18305447794811.jpg.jpg?resize=768,532 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP18305447794811.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,709 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In this March 29, 2018, file photo, a fighter from the U.S-backed Syrian Manbij Military Council looks through his binoculars to Turkish-backed fighters&#8217; positions, at the front line of Halawanji village, north of Manbij, Syria. (Hussein Malla\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Erdogan has oft-repeated threats that he will <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/2018\/11\/06\/turkey-joint-us-kurdish-patrols-in-syria-are-unacceptable\/\" target=_blank>send Turkish forces into Manbij<\/a>, where U.S. troops, Kurdish fighters, and even a mix of British and French forces, are known to operate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There, Turkish proxy forces, but likely not Turkish uniformed personnel, have been known to not only <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/2018\/10\/28\/turkey-strikes-positions-held-by-us-backed-kurdish-fighters-in-northern-syria\/\" target=_blank>shell U.S.-backed Kurds<\/a> with artillery rounds, but also shoot at U.S. troops on patrol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some of Turkey\u2019s proxy forces have also been accused of being Islamist radicals. But Turkey has found them particularly useful as foot soldiers during its large-scale operations in Syria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Erdogan warned of another coming attack this week, this time into the Manbij region. The warning comes after the Pentagon already took several steps to pacify Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under an agreement known as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/2018\/06\/07\/syrian-kurdish-leader-no-turkish-or-allied-forces-in-manbij\/\" target=_blank>the Manbij roadmap<\/a>, YPG fighters reportedly left in July. The militia governing Manbij has repeatedly said there are no more YPG fighters, only some YPG military advisers.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2018\/10\/24\/us-troops-in-syria-take-take-fire-from-turkish-proxy-fighters\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"157\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4651254.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">US troops in Syria take fire from Turkish proxy fighters<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Tensions persist between the U.S. military and its NATO ally in the Syrian region of Manbij.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the fall, U.S. troops trained for joint patrols with Turkish regular forces. The goal was to eventually maintain security and stability around Manbij together. Taking further steps to placate Turkey, the U.S. began building observation posts in northern Syria to help put to rest Turkish concerns by securing their border, according to Pentagon officials who announced the move in late November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, those efforts didn\u2019t seem to pay off, as Erdogan has renewed threats of sweeping through the area to clear out the alleged YPG fighters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe Americans are not being honest; they are still not removing terrorists [Kurdish fighters],\u201d Erdogan said of the situation in Manbij this December. \u201cTherefore, we will do it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to the important role Kurdish troops play in fighting ISIS, the U.S. has also made it clear that it wants to maintain a foothold in eastern Syria in order to block Iranian proxy forces from moving through the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump\u2019s national security adviser, John Bolton, backed the long-term presence of U.S. troops in Syria to balance against Iran this fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re not going to leave as long as Iranian troops are outside Iranian borders, and that includes Iranian proxies and militias,\u201d Bolton said in September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">ISIS is not defeated in Syria. It controls territory, retains significant fighting forces and is reconstituting those forces. ISW\u2019s assessment of the <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/ISIS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#ISIS<\/a> footprint in <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/Syria?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Syria<\/a>\/<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/Iraq?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Iraq<\/a> as of last month (update to follow): <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/m5APjB13PF\">pic.twitter.com\/m5APjB13PF<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TheStudyofWar\/status\/1075406917017788416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 19, 2018<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A confrontation between the U.S and Turkey, officially NATO allies, would create a geopolitical crisis at the heart of the world\u2019s most powerful military alliance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":36586,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":8,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":{"2":{"categories":["your-military","news","flashpoints","pentagon-congress"],"primary_category":"your-military"},"4":{"categories":["your-air-force","news","daily-news-roundup","newsletters","flashpoints","pentagon-congress"],"primary_category":"flashpoints"},"6":{"categories":["your-marine-corps","news","daily-news-roundup","newsletters","flashpoints","pentagon-congress"],"primary_category":"flashpoints"},"7":{"categories":["your-navy","news","daily-news-roundup","newsletters","flashpoints","pentagon-congress"],"primary_category":"flashpoints"}}},"categories":[100,8,12,25,68,70],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3385],"class_list":["post-16107","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-flashpoints","category-news","category-newsletters","category-pentagon-congress","category-your-army"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"BAO55QNHXBFF7K3DEUGRIRXIVM","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/your-army\/2018\/12\/19\/heres-what-may-be-driving-a-us-troop-withdrawal-from-syria\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented 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