US decides to vacate all troops from Syria

The United States has decided to withdraw all of its troops from Syria in phases, according to media reports.

Reuters, citing a report by The Wall Street Journal, said Washington has already vacated a strategically important military base and handed it over to the Syrian government.

The US established several military bases in Syria after the rise of the Islamic State (IS) militant group more than a decade ago. In 2014, during the Syrian civil war, IS seized large areas across Syria and Iraq and declared a so-called caliphate. In response, the US deployed about 2,000 troops to Syria as part of efforts to combat the group.

Currently, an estimated 1,000 US troops remain stationed at various bases in Syria. All of them will be brought home gradually under the new decision, the report said.

A senior US Defense Department official told The Wall Street Journal that although IS had posed a serious threat to global peace and stability, the situation has since changed. Syria now has a more stable government and IS no longer holds the same level of influence as before.

The official said one contingent of troops has already been withdrawn and a military base transferred to Syrian authorities.

However, US forces remain prepared to respond to any potential IS threats in the Middle East, the report added.