State of the World from NPR Will the U.S. withdraw military forces from Syria?
Feb 4, 2026
Jane Arraf, Middle East correspondent in Jordan covering regional dynamics and local perspectives. Tom Bowman, Pentagon correspondent tracking U.S. military operations and policy. They discuss ISIS remnants and security risks. They cover U.S. ties with Kurdish forces and the politics around troop withdrawal. They examine guarding Syrian oil fields and how a pullout could reshape regional influence.
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ISIS Is Weakened But Not Gone
- ISIS lost its territorial 'caliphate' but still operates as regrouping remnants in Syria and Iraq deserts.
- Jane Arraf emphasizes that security gaps let ISIS flourish again in seams between forces.
Kurds' Costly Partnership With U.S.
- Syrian Kurdish-led forces fought alongside the U.S. and suffered heavy casualties to defeat ISIS in 2017.
- Jane Arraf says the Kurds now feel betrayed as Washington signals it doesn't need them anymore.
US Cites Syrian Forces And Oil Security
- The Trump administration argues a new Syrian government and its military can address ISIS remnants.
- Tom Bowman notes the administration also worries about protecting oil fields from multiple actors if troops leave.