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U.S. Orders Final Withdrawal of 1,000 Troops From Syria by April 2026

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  • In this Sept. 8, 2019, photo, U.S. soldiers stand near a Turkish armored vehicle during the first American-Turkish joint patrol in the so-called “safe zone” on the Syrian side of the border with Turkey near Tal Abyad, Syria. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
    In this Sept. 8, 2019, photo, U.S. soldiers stand near a Turkish armored vehicle during the first American-Turkish joint patrol in the so-called “safe zone” on the Syrian side of the border with Turkey near Tal Abyad, Syria. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
    Image: Newsweek
    In this Sept. 8, 2019, photo, U.S. soldiers stand near a Turkish armored vehicle during the first American-Turkish joint patrol in the so-called “safe zone” on the Syrian side of the border with Turkey near Tal Abyad, Syria. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo) Source Full size
  • In this Sept. 8, 2019, photo, U.S. soldiers stand near a Turkish armored vehicle during the first American-Turkish joint patrol in the so-called “safe zone” on the Syrian side of the border with Turkey near Tal Abyad, Syria. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
    In this Sept. 8, 2019, photo, U.S. soldiers stand near a Turkish armored vehicle during the first American-Turkish joint patrol in the so-called “safe zone” on the Syrian side of the border with Turkey near Tal Abyad, Syria. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
    Image: Newsweek
    In this Sept. 8, 2019, photo, U.S. soldiers stand near a Turkish armored vehicle during the first American-Turkish joint patrol in the so-called “safe zone” on the Syrian side of the border with Turkey near Tal Abyad, Syria. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo) Source Full size

Withdrawal Timeline Set for Early April A senior U.S. official told Reuters the remaining 1,000 service members will leave Syria within the next 60 days, beginning shortly after the Feb. 19 announcement and completing by early April, ending the U.S. footprint in the country [1].

Origins of U.S. Presence Linked to ISIS Fight The United States entered Syria in 2015 as part of an anti‑ISIS coalition, working closely with the Kurdish‑led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to dismantle the terror group’s strongholds [1].

Syrian Government Expected to Lead Counter‑Terrorism President Ahmed al‑Sharaa’s government has signaled willingness to assume primary responsibility for counter‑terrorism operations, prompting Washington to deem a large‑scale U.S. presence unnecessary [1].

Partial Troop Exit Already Underway, Unrelated to Regional Buildups Some personnel have already departed in a conditions‑based transition, while the remaining troops will continue supporting partner‑led anti‑ISIS efforts; the pullout is not connected to recent Iranian‑backed attacks that killed two Iowa National Guard members and a translator in Palmyra [1].

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Timeline

Dec 2024 – Bashar al‑Assad’s regime collapses and former al‑Qaeda affiliate Ahmed al‑Sharaa assumes the interim presidency, pledging national unity and opening talks with the United States on security cooperation [1][25].

Oct 2025 – Hard‑line factions on both sides block the March 2025 SDF‑government integration agreement, deepening political deadlock over Syria’s future state structure [30].

Dec 11, 2025 – U.S. forces pivot to a partnership with interim President al‑Sharaa, shifting from a Kurdish‑centric strategy to joint cooperation with Damascus while still targeting ISIS [25].

Dec 23, 2025 – Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan leads a delegation to Damascus ahead of the March integration deadline, urging the SDF to cease being an “obstacle” to regional stability and meeting Syrian leaders to discuss security [28].

Jan 6, 2026 – The deadliest clash yet erupts in Aleppo as Syrian government forces and the SDF exchange artillery and drone strikes, killing a soldier, several civilians and sparking accusations that the SDF’s role in the March 2025 merger has stalled [24][24].

Jan 7, 2026 – Syrian troops shell Kurdish‑majority Aleppo districts after the civilian‑evacuation deadline expires, declaring the areas “closed military zones” and opening two humanitarian crossings for fleeing residents [27].

Jan 8, 2026 – Syrian authorities order civilians to evacuate Sheikh Maqsoud, Achrafieh and Bani Zaid by 1 p.m., publish target maps and impose a curfew, prompting tens of thousands to flee amid escalating fighting with the SDF [26][27].

Jan 9, 2026 – Aleppo province issues a 1 p.m. evacuation deadline; the army launches “targeted operations” against SDF positions, resulting in at least 12 civilian deaths and displacing over 142,000 people [22].

Jan 10, 2026 – Syrian forces intensify strikes in Sheikh Maqsoud, reporting the operation is over 90 % complete and arresting several SDF members, while the Defense Ministry urges remaining armed elements to surrender [21][20].

Jan 11, 2026 – First responders enter a contested Aleppo neighbourhood after days of deadly clashes that kill at least 23 people and displace more than 140,000, while UN aid teams prepare additional convoys [19].

Jan 17, 2026 – Syrian troops enter Deir Hafer following the SDF’s east‑of‑the‑Euphrates redeployment, and President al‑Sharaa issues a decree making Kurdish a national language and recognizing the Kurdish New Year as a holiday [18][4].

Jan 17, 2026 – U.S. forces complete their withdrawal from Iraq’s Ain al‑Asad air base, ending the phased pullout originally slated for September 2025 and handing the facility to the Iraqi army [17].

Jan 18, 2026 – Syrian army seizes the Omar oil field—the country’s largest—and nearby gas fields, consolidating state control over critical energy assets after the SDF pulls back east of the Euphrates [16].

Jan 18, 2026 – Government forces launch a rapid offensive that captures Kurdish‑held territory across Aleppo, Raqqa and Deir Ezzor, taking dams and oil fields while the SDF agrees to a 14‑point ceasefire and withdrawal to Hasakah [15][14].

Jan 18, 2026 – A four‑day ceasefire is announced between Damascus and the SDF, halting frontline fighting while the agreement outlines SDF withdrawal from Raqqa and Deir ez‑Zor and individual integration into state ministries [14][11].

Jan 19, 2026 – Fresh clashes erupt in the northeast a day after the ceasefire, as government troops move into SDF‑controlled Raqqa and Deir ez‑Zor, while SDF commander Mazlum Abdi says the fighting was imposed on his forces [13][14].

Jan 20, 2026 – The SDF and Syrian government announce a new four‑day ceasefire after clashes at al‑Hol camp and Shaddadeh prison, with the SDF pledging to de‑escalate and protect civilians [11].

Jan 20, 2026 – Turkey’s pro‑Kurdish DEM party warns that Syrian violence against Kurds could derail Ankara’s peace process, linking regional fighting to domestic reconciliation efforts [12].

Jan 21, 2026 – The U.S. begins transferring up to 7,000 ISIS detainees from northeastern Syrian prisons to Iraq, moving an initial 150 prisoners to secure facilities as Damascus expands control [5][8].

Jan 21, 2026 – The Kurdish‑led SDF loses most of its northeastern territory after a government offensive, and U.S. envoy Tom Barrack declares the SDF’s anti‑ISIS role “largely expired,” signaling a shift toward Damascus‑led security [7][10].

Jan 21, 2026 – SDF political leader Ilham Ahmed says the group’s original military mission is over but calls for international guarantees of Kurdish language rights, citizenship and protection within a unified Syria [10].

Jan 22, 2026 – The United Nations assumes management of al‑Hol camp after the SDF withdraws, establishing a security perimeter while warning that conditions inside remain “tense and volatile” [3].

Jan 22, 2026 – President al‑Sharaa’s government seizes remaining Kurdish‑held northeast, issuing a decree granting Kurds nationality, recognizing Kurdish as a national language and declaring Nowruz a national holiday [4][1].

Jan 24, 2026 – Syria’s Defense Ministry extends the ceasefire by 15 days following the earlier four‑day truce, framing the extension as support for the U.S. transfer of ISIS detainees and ongoing integration talks [6].

Jan 26, 2026 – The United States presses Damascus to preserve the SDF’s counter‑ISIS capabilities, warning that the government cannot instantly replace the SDF’s intelligence networks and detention facilities [29].

Jan 30, 2026 – The Syrian government and the Kurdish‑led SDF sign a historic integration deal that merges SDF fighters and institutions into the national army and civil administration, transfers the Omar oil field and Tabqa dam to Damascus, and includes a decree recognizing Kurdish cultural and civil rights; U.S. envoy Tom Barrack calls the pact “a profound and historic milestone” [1][1].

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