DOD will reduce troops in Syria

The U.S. Department of Defense announced a troop reduction in Syria, decreasing the military presence to under 1,000 personnel in the coming months. This drawdown follows the degradation of ISIS and a directive to consolidate forces. The Pentagon cited significant progress in weakening ISIS's operational capabilities and the territorial defeat of the group in 2019 as key factors. The DOD will continue working with partners to counter ISIS and other terrorist threats, while also urging the international community to repatriate their nationals held in Syrian camps.