On February 18, 2026, the Wall Street Journal reported that the United States is preparing to withdraw all of its remaining 1,000 troops from Syria within the next two months. This decision, cited by senior US officials, marks the end of a decade-long military presence initiated in 2014 to combat the Islamic State (ISIS). The withdrawal follows the recent handover of strategic outposts, including the al-Tanf garrison and the al-Shaddadi base, to the Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
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Washington’s reassessment stems from a landmark January 30 agreement brokered by the US, which integrates the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the national Syrian army. This deal followed intense military pressure and subsequent diplomacy that saw the SDF cede administrative control of oil-rich regions and major cities like Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor to Damascus. In exchange, President al-Sharaa issued Decree No. 13, recognizing Kurdish cultural rights and granting citizenship to stateless Kurds.
US to withdraw troops from Syria as tensions mount with Iran https://t.co/qLzdEfqTUw
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) February 19, 2026
Administration officials emphasized that this exit is a strategic response to “achieved objectives” rather than a reaction to the current naval buildup near Iran. While some analysts warn of a potential ISIS resurgence, the White House maintains that the reconstituted Syrian security apparatus is now capable of leading regional counter-terrorism efforts.
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