Washington – A report by Al-Monitor on Tuesday revealed that the U.S. defence spending bill for the current fiscal year could limit the withdrawal of American troops from Syria.
According to the report, the bill requires the Department of Defense (Pentagon) to formally certify that any withdrawal will not jeopardize the ongoing mission to defeat ISIS.
The 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes provisions that prohibit reducing or consolidating U.S. military bases in Syria without prior notice to Congress. It also mandates that any report submitted to lawmakers must assess potential gaps in support or training provided to local Syrian partner forces.
Al-Monitor stated that this legislative move reflects growing bipartisan concern in Washington that an American pullout could create a vacuum for extremist groups or Iranian proxies to exploit.
The bill highlights bipartisan consensus on the need for congressional oversight of any strategic shift in Syria.
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In April, the Pentagon announced plans to cut U.S. troop levels in Syria to fewer than 1,000 soldiers.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had ordered the consolidation of U.S. forces under Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve at selected sites.
“This deliberate, conditions-based process will reduce the U.S. footprint in Syria to below 1,000 troops in the coming months,” Parnell said.
He added that the move reflects significant gains made by the U.S. in degrading ISIS’s operational capacity both regionally and globally. The planned drawdown is being presented as part of the broader success in defeating the group’s territorial control, especially during the Trump administration’s tenure.
The statement noted that the U.S.-led coalition has made substantial progress over the past decade, including regional defeat of ISIS and a series of strikes to weaken its resurgence potential.
The Pentagon emphasized that, in line with President Trump’s doctrine of “peace through strength,” U.S. Central Command remains ready to carry out further operations against ISIS and is prepared to work with capable and willing coalition partners to continue counterterrorism efforts in Syria.
