US should not withdraw troops from Syria, Austin called important mission - AP
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (photo: Getty Images)
The US must maintain its military presence in Syria to prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State (ISIS) group as the primary threat following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government, states US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, according to an interview with the Associated Press.
According to the head of the Pentagon, American troops are still needed in Syria, particularly to ensure the security of detention camps where tens of thousands of former ISIS militants and their families are held.
Estimates suggest that between 8,000 and 10,000 terrorists are in the camps, with at least 2,000 considered highly dangerous.
"If Syria is left unprotected, I think ISIS fighters would enter back into the mainstream. I think that we still have some work to do in terms of keeping a foot on the throat of ISIS," said Austin.
He added that the transitional government in Syria is still being formed, and it is uncertain how events will unfold in the future.
"The SDF have been good partners. At some point, the SDF may very well be absorbed into the Syrian military and then Syria would own all the (IS detention) camps and hopefully keep control of them. But for now I think we have to protect our interests there," said the Pentagon chief.
US troops in Syria
To combat ISIS in Syria, the US deployed around 2,000 troops, a significant increase from the previously stated figure of 900, which had been reported for years by officials. The troops were sent in 2015 after ISIS militants captured a large portion of Syrian territory.
In operations against the Islamists, US forces collaborate with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), led by the Kurds. They provide cover for the group, which Turkey views as a branch of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and designates as a terrorist organization.
The continued presence of US troops in Syria was called into question after opposition forces swiftly overthrew Assad on December 8, ending the decade-long rule of his family.
In 2018, newly elected President Donald Trump sought to withdraw all US forces from Syria, which led to the resignation of then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.
When the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group opposed Assad in December of last year, Trump tweeted that US troops should not intervene in the conflict.
Fall of Assad's regime and the risk of ISIS resurgence
On December 8, 2024, fighters from the Islamic group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham captured key cities in Syria, including the capital Damascus. Bashar al-Assad and his family fled the country and sought refuge in Russia.
Currently, Syria is under the temporary control of Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali. He is willing to cooperate with any leadership chosen by the Syrian people.
Immediately following the fall of Assad's regime, US military forces launched airstrikes on ISIS camps in Syria. This move aims to block any potential opportunity for the militants to exploit the current situation and revive their activities in the central regions of the country.
