Deir Ezzor, eastern Syria- The United States has withdrawn a portion of its troops from the Conoco gas field in Syria’s eastern Deir Ezzor province over the past two days, a local security source told +963. The move comes amid growing indications of a broader U.S. military drawdown from Syria, despite concerns among regional allies.
A U.S. military convoy reportedly left the base heading northeast, toward American positions in Syria’s Hasakah region. At the same time, troops dismantled a surveillance aerostat, an elevated thermal balloon system used to monitor the nearby the “Seven Villages” area (Al-Qura Al-Saba’ah), once controlled by Iran-backed militias and now held by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Read also: U.S. to Begin Troop Withdrawal from Syria Within Two Months, Despite Israeli Concerns
Israeli media, including Yedioth Ahronoth, reported this week that Washington informed Israeli officials of its intention to begin a phased withdrawal from Syria within two months. U.S. officials have not confirmed the timeline but acknowledged ongoing planning to reduce troop presence through force consolidation.
Two U.S. officials told Reuters on Wednesday that the Pentagon is preparing to merge some deployments in Syria, possibly halving the number of troops to around 1,000. One official cautioned that the final figure remains uncertain, particularly as Washington weighs broader regional strategy amid tensions with Iran.
Despite Israeli efforts to persuade Washington to maintain a military footprint in Syria, those appeals appear to have fallen short.
