RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany — The United States must maintain its military presence in Syria to stave off the resurgence of the Islamic State organization, especially following the recent upheaval against Bashar Assad’s regime, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated in a recent interview. He emphasized that American troops are crucial for safeguarding detention facilities that house thousands of former IS militants and their family members.
Estimates suggest there are between 8,000 and 10,000 IS fighters currently held in these camps, with at least 2,000 of them classified as especially dangerous. Austin warned that failure to provide protection in Syria could lead to these fighters reintegrating into society and potentially revitalizing the group’s influence. Speaking from Ramstein Air Base in Germany, where discussions focused on military support for Ukraine involved around 50 allied nations, he noted, “We still have some work to do in terms of keeping a foot on the throat of ISIS.”
The situation was further complicated during Donald Trump’s presidency when he attempted a complete withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria in 2018, a decision that led to then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis resigning in protest. Recently, as the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, made advances against Assad’s government, Trump expressed on social media that U.S. troops should disengage from the conflict altogether.
Currently, there are approximately 2,000 American soldiers in Syria, a rise from the previously reported count of 900. These troops were initially deployed in 2015 after the Islamic State took control of significant territories in Syria. The call for U.S. troop presence has gained urgency following the ousting of Assad on December 8, which has triggered a rapid change in the political landscape.
American forces have collaborated closely with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in combat operations against IS, providing critical support against a group that Turkey considers linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is designated as a terrorist entity. The formation of a transitional government in Syria remains uncertain, leading to questions about future U.S. strategy in the region.
Austin remarked on the partnership with the SDF, stating, “They have been good partners. At some point, the SDF may very well be absorbed into the Syrian military, and then Syria would own all the IS detention camps and hopefully keep control of them.” However, he reiterated the necessity for the U.S. to prioritize and safeguard its interests in the area for the time being.
