With the questionable doubling of US troops in Syria shortly before the Assad departure, almost certainly a part of a back door international deal, the new President will be left with a much more volatile Syrian question – Does Trump remove US forces from Syria and risk what neocons and liberals will inevitably claim is “emboldening” ISIS or does he stay in and risk another Iraq with mercurial objectives of “defeating ISIS?”
As Antonio Graceffo wrote in his article, “Countering ISIS: America’s Intensified Mission In Syria,” for The Gateway Pundit,
The Pentagon recently disclosed that the doubling of U.S. troop levels in Syria predates the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, highlighting a sustained commitment to countering ISIS and preventing its resurgence in the region.
While most of the deployed troops are Army personnel focused on disrupting ISIS operations, details regarding the timeline and specifics of their mission remain unclear.
Reports indicate that the troop increase has been in place for months, raising questions about the transparency of U.S. involvement in Syria.
Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder emphasized that the additional forces are not related to recent events, such as the search for missing journalist Austin Tice, but instead reflect long-term counterterrorism objectives.
On December 8, 2024, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) conducted precision airstrikes targeting over 75 known ISIS camps and operatives in central Syria.
Utilizing B-52 bombers, F-15 fighter jets, and A-10 aircraft, these operations aimed to disrupt and degrade ISIS’s operational capabilities, preventing the group from regrouping amid Syria’s ongoing instability.
No civilian casualties were reported during the strikes, which underscore the U.S. commitment to counterterrorism in the region.
Following these efforts, General Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of CENTCOM, visited Syria and Iraq to assess ongoing operations against ISIS, marking the first visit of a senior U.S. military official since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
In Syria, he met with leaders of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and U.S. troops to discuss strategies for force protection and preventing ISIS from exploiting the region’s volatility.
In Iraq, Kurilla held discussions with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and other officials in Baghdad to strengthen cooperation between Iraq and the international coalition in combating terrorism and ensuring regional security.
The U.S. Department of Defense reaffirmed its commitment to defeating ISIS in Syria, with Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh emphasizing CENTCOM’s focus on preventing the group’s resurgence.
Precision airstrikes and sustained collaboration with local partners, including the Kurdish-led SDF, highlight the ongoing efforts to counter ISIS and deny it safe havens.
Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III has engaged with Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler to address regional developments, emphasizing the need to protect civilians, prevent escalation, and maintain coordination to ensure the success of the counter-ISIS mission.
Meanwhile, ISIS is actively working to rebuild its governance capabilities, even attempting to poach hardliners from rival factions like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
A report by the Soufan Center highlights the need for sustained U.S. counterterrorism efforts, including targeted operations and airstrikes against ISIS leaders, to mitigate the group’s global threat.
However, President-elect Trump’s consideration of a U.S. troop withdrawal could embolden ISIS and complicate efforts to counter its resurgence.
Ongoing vigilance remains essential to disrupting ISIS’s attempts to exploit the chaos in Syria to rebuild its external operational capacities.
Minority groups in Syria, including Kurds, Christians, Alawites, Druze, and Yazidis, remain at significant risk of targeted violence and massacres.
While Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) claims it will create a more inclusive government, its origins in Islamic jihadist movements undermine its credibility, and most minorities and international observers view these promises with deep skepticism.
In contrast, the Syrian National Army (SNA), another major anti-Assad faction, has made no such pledges.
Some SNA factions, composed of individuals with ties to extremist groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS, have been implicated in attacks on Kurds and other minorities.
Meanwhile, ISIS sees the fall of Assad as a critical opportunity to stage a resurgence.[1]
If Trump foolishly decides to continue or, worse yet, intensify the American occupation of Syria, he will undoubtedly be faced with a military and political crisis that will rival the Iraq war debacle. The continued American intervention in Syria benefits only Israel and a host of international corporate entities that may potentially benefit from potential exploitative ventures in the region. Trump’s legacy will be forever tarnished, and he will be dogged by political friends and enemies alike, alienating his own base.
If Trump wisely defies the Deep State, domestic and foreign political pressure, he will no doubt be attacked in the media as weak and foolish but, in the long run, will be proven right for refusing to entangle his country in another pointless foreign war. He will, in turn, be supported and rewarded by his base.
Neither of these options will come without a political price on the foreign or domestic stage, however. It is thus imperative that the new administration make the right call and remove American service personnel from Syria immediately.
[1] Graceffo, Antonio. “Countering ISIS: America’s Intensified Mission In Syria.” The Gateway Pundit. December 20, 2024. https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/12/countering-isis-americas-intensified-mission-syria/
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