U.S. official: No plans to withdraw troops from northeast Syria or establish a base near Damascus

A senior U.S. administration official says Washington will maintain its military presence in northeast Syria and has “no plans to change” deployment levels, rejecting claims that the United States intends to establish a military base near Damascus. The statement comes ahead of an anticipated Washington visit by HTS-linked Syrian figure Ahmed Sharaa, described by U.S. diplomats as part of a new diplomatic opening with the Syrian government.

U.S. denies plans for base near Damascus

The United States has no intention of withdrawing forces from northeast Syria and will continue its mission there, a senior U.S. official told reporters, signaling policy continuity despite recent regional diplomatic shifts.

“At this moment, we have no plans to change our posture,” the official said, emphasizing that the U.S. military presence remains focused on supporting local partners in the fight against ISIS and maintaining stability around key facilities, including the al-Tanf garrison near the Jordanian border.

The official dismissed reports claiming that Washington plans to build a new military base near Damascus, calling them “completely inaccurate.” The comments followed a Reuters article suggesting the U.S. may deploy monitoring forces as part of preliminary discussions on a possible Israeli-Syrian security arrangement.

“The United States has no plan to establish any structure in Syria similar to our coordination centers in Lebanon or Gaza,” the official said. “Our focus is the fight against ISIS. A coordination base is unnecessary.”

Diplomatic opening with Damascus gains momentum

Washington’s renewed engagement with Damascus comes as Ahmed Sharaa, representative of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)-controlled administration in Damascus and formerly linked to al-Qaeda networks, is expected to visit the White House. If confirmed, the meeting would mark a historic turning point in relations between Washington and the Syrian government.

According to multiple diplomatic sources, the Syrian side has — for the first time in years — demonstrated readiness to cooperate with the U.S. on certain issues. In return, U.S. officials have conveyed a list of expectations that must be met before deeper engagement can proceed.

U.S. demands from Damascus

Washington has delivered a clear set of conditions as part of the exploratory diplomacy:

• Cooperation against ISIS, including intelligence sharing.

• Control and security of detention camps holding ISIS fighters and families in northeast Syria.

• Removal of foreign militias backed by regional powers.

• Extradition of wanted terrorists.

• Protection of minority rights under any future political arrangement.

• Progress toward a lasting peace agreement with Israel.

Tom Brack, Washington’s special representative for Syria, praised steps taken by Sharaa’s administration, saying:

“The Sharaa government is moving in the right direction. But we are still at the beginning of the process. Every file remains open and both sides need to work hard.”

Northeast Syria deployment to continue

The U.S. military’s presence in Syria, particularly in the Kurdish-controlled northeast and at al-Tanf, plays a strategic role in countering ISIS networks and limiting Iran-backed militia influence along critical transit routes.

A U.S. defense official told Al Arabiya that the counter-ISIS mission remains Washington’s priority.

“We support the joint efforts of the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in fighting ISIS,” the official said.

The official added that while the U.S. was able to reduce troop levels in Iraq after gains against ISIS, no such review is underway for Syria.

Trump administration takes a new line on Syria

President Donald Trump made multiple attempts during his previous term to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria, sparking open clashes with then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.

In contrast, Trump’s current national security team appears committed to maintaining a limited but strategic U.S. footprint in Syria, arguing that an abrupt exit would create a power vacuum benefiting ISIS and rival regional actors.

Early contacts on Israel–Syria security arrangement

Sources familiar with ongoing talks say preliminary discussions have taken place between U.S., Syrian and Israeli intermediaries regarding possible demilitarized security arrangements stretching from southern Damascus to the Jordanian border. However, officials stress that no formal agreement exists, and progress remains limited.

A senior U.S. diplomat added:

“The U.S. wants Israel to live in peace with its neighbors. But at this stage, that goal remains aspirational.”