Skip to main content

Some US forces to remain in northeastern Syria, SDF sources say

Residual US forces will remain inside Syria despite President Donald Trump's Monday announcement that an estimated 1,000 US service members would be withdrawn from the Kurdish-controlled zone, Kurdish sources told Al-Monitor.

U.S. and Turkish military forces conduct a joint ground patrol inside the security mechanism area in northeast, Syria, September 8, 2019. Picture taken September 8, 2019.  U.S. Army/Spc. Alec Dionne/Handout via REUTERS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY.     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC1A2BD04270
US and Turkish military forces conduct a joint ground patrol inside the security mechanism area in northeast, Syria, Sept. 8, 2019.

Residual US forces will remain inside northeast Syria even after President Donald Trump formally announced yesterday that an estimated 1,000 US service members would be withdrawn from the Kurdish-controlled zone, sources linked to the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) told Al-Monitor today. At least three sources said that “some” US forces would redeploy southeast of the town of Manbij. One of the sources said they would be stationed around the Tishreen Dam. The claim could not be independently confirmed.

Reports of a redeployment follow the first-ever telephone call between Trump and SDF commander Mazlum Kobane. The sources did not elaborate on whether Trump had signed off on a residual force in that conversation. But a source close to Kobane said that after the phone call, “He sounded more relaxed than he has in the past days."

Subscribe for unlimited access

All news, events, memos, reports, and analysis, and access all 10 of our newsletters. Learn more

$14 monthly or $100 annually ($8.33/month)
OR

Continue reading this article for free

All news, events, memos, reports, and analysis, and access all 10 of our newsletters. Learn more.

By signing up, you agree to Al-Monitor’s Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Already have an account? Log in