U.S. Officially Announces Reduction of Bases in Syria: "From Eight to One"

U.S. to Reduce Military Bases in Syria
Special Envoy Barrack: "From Eight Bases to One"
Continued Support for SDF Despite Turkiye's Objections
HTS Forms Transitional Government, Moves SDF Away from Turkish Border
Emphasis on Dialogue Between Turkiye and Israel Over Syrian Tensions

Tom Barrack, the U.S. Ambassador to Turkiye and Special Envoy to Syria for President Donald Trump, has officially announced the plan to reduce the number of U.S. military bases in Syria.

According to Turkiye's NTV broadcaster on June 3 (local time), Special Envoy Barrack responded to a question about whether the Trump administration would withdraw troops from Syria by stating, "The number of bases, which was eight, will be reduced to five, then three, and eventually to one."

Last month, the U.S. daily The New York Times reported that the U.S. military had begun closing three out of eight bases operated in northeastern Syria and was reducing the number of troops stationed there from 2,000 to around 1,400.

Until now, U.S. forces stationed in Syria have worked with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led rebel group that opposed the former pro-Iranian dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, to prevent the expansion of the extremist militant group Islamic State (IS).

Regarding the U.S. support for the SDF, which Turkiye has regarded as hostile, Special Envoy Barrack stated, "The SDF is an ally," and emphasized, "It is very important for the SDF to be integrated into the new Syrian government."

The Turkish government claims that the Kurdish separatist organization Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is designated as a terrorist group by Turkiye, the United States, and Europe, is linked to the SDF. However, the United States has continued to cooperate with the SDF in operations against IS in Syria and the broader Middle East.

Throughout the more than 13 years of the Syrian civil war, Turkiye has supported certain rebel factions. At the end of last year, pro-Turkish rebels participated in efforts by the Islamic militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) to oust President Assad. HTS subsequently established a transitional government and appointed its leader Alshara as interim president. HTS has declared the integration of the SDF into government forces and is withdrawing them from areas near the Turkish border.

Regarding the rising military tensions between neighboring Turkiye and Israel over Syria, Special Envoy Barrack explained, "Turkiye was one of the first countries to recognize Israel," and stressed the importance of dialogue between the two nations. He added, "Israel must provide assurance that it does not seek to occupy Syria," and clarified, "In any case, Turkiye has no interest in Syrian territory."