US reaches decision on Syria pullout
The White House said Wednesday that the US military mission in Syria was 'coming to a rapid end' but indicated no timetable for a withdrawal.
Days after President Donald Trump shocked aides and allies by declaring that the roughly 2,000 troops helping combat the Islamic State group would be coming home soon, the White House scotched talk of a precipitous withdrawal.
After a meeting Tuesday between Trump and his national security team, the White House said that the battle against the Islamic State group was almost over, but not quite.
'The military mission to eradicate ISIS in Syria is coming to a rapid end, with ISIS being almost completely destroyed.'
'The United States and our partners remain committed to eliminating the small ISIS presence in Syria that our forces have not already eradicated.'
Estimates about the number of jihadis remaining around the Syria-Iraq border range from a couple of hundred to the tens of thousands.
They are being fought by disparate groups of Kurdish and Syrian opposition fighters, with some US and coalition support.
You may also like
More from Defence Notes
-
![Estonia opts for smart, adaptable and cooperative solutions in the face of Russian threat]()
Estonia opts for smart, adaptable and cooperative solutions in the face of Russian threat
Estonian-made equipment is being put through the toughest of evaluations in the hands of Ukrainian soldiers resisting the full-scale Russian invasion which began in 2022. The country has long seen the threat and is continuing to adapt for the future.
-
![Estonia boosting defence industry with lessons from Ukraine, says country’s economic minister]()
Estonia boosting defence industry with lessons from Ukraine, says country’s economic minister
Estonia is looking to boost its local defence industry with directed funding, industry parks, support through international orders for equipment and rapid prototyping.
-
![UK faces cost of balancing defensive capabilities abroad as Iran conflict widens]()
UK faces cost of balancing defensive capabilities abroad as Iran conflict widens
The UK has recently deployed a Type 45 destroyer to Cyprus and has bolstered its presence in the Middle East in recent weeks with supporting air power to protect neighbouring countries’ air defences.
-
![White House calls on Pentagon contractors to “rapidly and aggressively” boost weapon production]()
White House calls on Pentagon contractors to “rapidly and aggressively” boost weapon production
Intended to sustain Operation Epic Fury against Iran, efforts to increase the production of weapons and ammunition could expose long-standing weaknesses in the US defence industrial base.
-
![India’s strategic defence footprint expansion could be accelerated by Iran-Israel conflict]()
India’s strategic defence footprint expansion could be accelerated by Iran-Israel conflict
The latest escalation between Iran and Israel could shape New Delhi’s next-generation shield as India deepens cooperation with Israel on missile defence and drone production.
-
![Is the US magazine of air defence interceptors deep enough to sustain a long campaign against Iran?]()
Is the US magazine of air defence interceptors deep enough to sustain a long campaign against Iran?
The Pentagon spent a considerable number of THAAD and SM-3 rounds to defend against Iranian missiles in 2025 and has not fully replenished its reserves.
