US to Reduce Military Bases in Syria from 8 to 1
According to webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency and Al-Nashra, Thomas Barak, the US envoy to Syria, announced washington’s reduction of military bases in the region.
In an interview with Turkey’s NTV network, Barak stated that the process of downsizing US military bases in Syria has commenced. He confirmed Washington plans to close all but one remaining base.
“We will reduce from eight bases to five,then three,” he said. “Ideally, we aim to maintain only a single base in the country.”
The envoy appointed by former US President Donald Trump acknowledged that Syria-under Abu Muhammad al-Julani’s leadership-continues facing meaningful security challenges.
Al-Julani, former leader of the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), rose to power following Bashar al-Assad’s government collapse. Forces under his control seized Damascus on December 8, 2024 (18 azar 1403 Persian calendar), prompting Syria’s army command to formally declare Assad’s regime had fallen.
During his recent Middle East visit, Trump held an unprecedented meeting with al-Julani in saudi Arabia. The former president proposed conditions including normalization with Israel and pledged sanctions relief for syria-despite Washington previously offering a $10 million bounty for al-Julani’s capture.
