A convoy of U.S. armored vehicles passes through the village of Yalanli, on the western outskirts of the northern Syrian city of Manbij, during March 2017. U.S. forces in that city have kept Turkey from attacking the Kurdish militia there.
If President Donald Trump gets his way, the United States will soon be heading for the door in Syria. At a March 29 rally, the president said that troops will be leaving "very soon." And about a week later, The Washington Post reported that Trump had instructed the Department of Defense to draw up exit plans, although he didn't set a deadline. The likelihood of a pullout is uncertain because the Pentagon, the State Department and other parts of the U.S. government are pushing the case that the United States needs to remain in Syria. Furthermore, a withdrawal will create power vacuums, affect relations with enemies and allies, and weaken U.S. influence in the region. The Benefits of a U.S. Withdrawal From Syria A withdrawal from Syria could benefit the United States in three ways. A pullout would free up previously committed troops for other missions.
