American troops will leave Syria as Russia evacuates its Mediterranean naval base, redrawing the military map of a country still grappling with leadership changes.
White House officials have told Israeli counterparts about plans to withdraw US forces from Syria, where 2,000 American personnel currently operate. The announcement emerges amid broader regional upheaval following Bashar al-Assad’s fall from power last December.
Russia Evacuates Strategic Mediterranean Base
Satellite photos show Russian cargo vessels Sparta and Sparta II docked at Tartus naval base, loading equipment and vehicles. Syria’s new government cancelled Russia’s 49-year lease on the facility, ending Moscow’s naval foothold in the Mediterranean. The base served as a supply point for Russian operations across the Middle East and Africa, particularly in Libya.
Russia’s military has drawn down its presence at Khmeimim Air Base as well. Recent satellite imagery reveals the disappearance of vehicles and equipment from marshalling areas. Russian helicopters now patrol the evacuation zones, mirroring previous withdrawal operations.
As Russia and America withdraw their armed forces, eyes turn to Israel, which is insisting on keeping military presence in Syria.
Israel Says Troops Must Stay
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz declared his forces would remain atop Mount Hermon “indefinitely” to “defend” northern communities. The Israeli military entered the buffer zone on December 8th when Assad’s government collapsed.
Syria’s new authorities have pushed back. During meetings with UN peacekeeping head Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Syrian officials offered to deploy their own troops along the 1974 ceasefire lines if Israeli forces withdraw. The United Nations considers Israel’s presence in the buffer zone a violation of long-standing agreements.
While Syria and Israel wrangle over buffer zone control, Kurdish forces in the northeast must choose whether to toe the line or break ranks.
Complex Situation for Kurdish forces
The Syrian Democratic Forces control a third of Syria, including most oil fields. The Kurdish-led group now faces mounting pressure as US protection wanes. The Pentagon admitted to having 2,000 troops in Syria, not 900 as previously claimed.
The withdrawal echoes a similar pullout in 2019 when President Trump ordered American forces to leave northern Syria. That decision left Kurdish allies exposed to Turkish military operations. Defence Secretary Mark Esper at the time defended the move, saying “50 service members are not going to stop a Turkish advance.”
Islamic State fighters have grown bolder, launching 35 attacks across seven provinces in early January alone. A recent prison break attempt highlighted ongoing security risks. The militant group killed 502 people in Syria’s central desert during 2023.
The group has reestablished shadow control in parts of regime-held territory, running complex extortion operations targeting everyone from doctors to truck drivers. In rural areas, Islamic State operates as an unofficial authority, issuing taxation demands based on detailed knowledge of local businesses.
As security threats loom, Syria’s new government searches for ways to maintain stability.
New Leadership Seeks Solutions
Some U.S. officials have proposed cooperation between Kurdish forces and Syria’s government to maintain anti-terror operations. Yet historical tensions between these groups cast doubt on such arrangements.
Syria’s new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa met with Kurdish delegates last week, showing openness to dialogue. The talks focused on integrating Kurdish forces into a new national military structure.
Control of Syria’s oil fields remains central to negotiations. Kurdish-held areas contain 70 percent of the country’s oil and gas resources. Without recognised authority to sign contracts, neither Kurdish authorities nor the U.S. can arrange the foreign investment needed to rebuild Syria’s energy sector.
As foreign forces depart, regional powers like Türkiye may step into the void. The coming months will test whether Syria’s competing factions can forge lasting security agreements without outside military presence. For now, the simultaneous withdrawal of American and Russian forces herald the end of an era in Syria’s long-running conflict.
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