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Trump says decision on US troops in Syria pending amid reports of exit talks with Turkey.
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that a decision will be made regarding the future of American troops in Syria, following reports that his administration intends to exit from Kurdish-controlled areas and links that withdrawal to Turkey’s reconciliation with Israel.
Responding to a question about Israeli media reports, Trump denied having said he would withdraw US forces from Syria.
“I don’t know who said that. But we’ll make a determination on that,” Trump said and added, “We’re not involved in Syria. Syria’s its own mess. … They don’t need us involved.”
Trump’s comments come after a report from Israel’s public broadcaster Kan stating that White House officials informed their Israeli counterparts of Trump’s intention to withdraw US troops from Syria. Additionally, Israeli news outlet Maariv reported that Trump has conditioned the pullout on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan restoring ties with Israel, which have deteriorated sharply since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack and Israel’s subsequent military actions in Gaza. Erdoğan has positioned himself as one of Israel’s fiercest critics, severing trade ties while accusing it of war crimes.
Turkey has long opposed the US military presence in Syria due to Washington’s support for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which played a key role in defeating the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Ankara views the SDF’s dominant faction, the People’s Protection Units (YPG), as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which Turkey, the United States and the European Union designate as a terrorist organization. Erdoğan has repeatedly called for an American withdrawal, arguing that US troops in Syria provide protection for Kurdish factions that Turkey considers a national security threat.
A US exit would give Ankara greater freedom to escalate operations against Kurdish-controlled areas in the northeast.
Meanwhile, the US has recently doubled its troop presence in Syria, increasing the numbers from 900 to around 2,000, following the December 8 ousting of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad by a coalition of rebels led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
The Pentagon has described the troop increase as temporary, aimed at preventing ISIL from regaining a foothold in the country. However, the prospect of a US withdrawal has sparked concern among Kurdish forces, who view American troops as a critical buffer against both Turkey and potential resurgent threats from ISIL and pro-regime forces.
SDF commander Mazloum Abdi has repeatedly warned against a US pullout, arguing that it would destabilize the region and leave Kurdish-controlled territories vulnerable to Turkish offensives.
Since November Turkish-backed forces have captured several SDF-held enclaves in northern Syria, amid Washington’s efforts to broker a ceasefire. The Kurdish-led administration has urged US officials to maintain their presence to prevent further incursions.
Israel has also expressed concern about the implications of a US departure. Defense Minister Israel Katz, who visited Mount Hermon in Syria this week, said the Israel Defense Forces would remain in the area “indefinitely” to prevent hostile actors from establishing a foothold. Israel has long viewed the presence of US forces in Syria as a counterbalance to Iranian influence and a deterrent against threats from Hezbollah and other militias.
(Turkish minute)