The United States Defense Secretary emphasized the necessity of maintaining troops in Syria to prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State group following the removal of Bashar Assad's regime. The primary objective is to safeguard the security of detention facilities holding a significant number of former IS militants and their families.
Estimates suggest that the camps house between 8,000 to 10,000 IS fighters, with approximately 2,000 deemed highly dangerous. Failure to uphold security measures could potentially lead to the reintegration of ISIS fighters into society, posing a significant threat.
President-elect Donald Trump's attempt to withdraw all troops from Syria in 2018 faced opposition, resulting in the resignation of the former Defense Secretary. The current U.S. military presence in Syria, numbering around 2,000 troops, is focused on countering the Islamic State group.
Collaborating with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, U.S. troops have played a crucial role in combatting IS. However, Turkey views the Syrian Democratic Forces as linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, a group it designates as a terrorist organization.
Following the recent upheaval that led to the ousting of Assad, the future of Syria remains uncertain. The transitional government is in the process of formation, raising questions about the management of IS detention camps moving forward.
While acknowledging the potential integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces into the Syrian military, the Defense Secretary stressed the importance of protecting U.S. interests in the region for the time being.
