London – The leader of the Kurdish forces controlling north-eastern Syria has urgently called on US President Donald Trump to maintain American military presence in the region, warning that a withdrawal would risk the resurgence of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group.
General Mazloum Abdi, commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), spoke exclusively to The Guardian, expressing deep concerns over the growing instability in the region. He warned that if the 2,000 US troops stationed in the area were pulled out, it would lead to the revival of IS and various other factions seeking to destabilise the region further.
Abdi highlighted the increased strength of IS in Syria’s desert areas after seizing weapons from the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. He also pointed out the mounting pressure faced by Kurdish forces, particularly from Turkey and its allied Syrian proxies. “The key factor of stabilisation in this area is the US presence on the ground,” Abdi explained, adding that the withdrawal of American troops would provide an opportunity for IS and other groups to resurface.
Reports indicate that members of IS have been plotting attacks on detention centres holding captured IS fighters, capitalising on the fact that Kurdish forces are preoccupied defending their region against Turkey and its allies. Abdi emphasised that the Kurdish forces were already stretched thin, preventing them from adequately addressing the threat posed by IS.
The general further suggested that the incoming US president, Joe Biden, would recognise the risks of withdrawing US troops, especially in light of recent terrorist attacks in the US. Abdi referred to the IS-inspired attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day as an indication that the global terrorist threat was escalating, making it vital for the US to maintain its presence in Syria.
Since 2014, the SDF has been a crucial partner to the US and its allies, helping to remove IS from its strongholds in north-east Syria. This collaboration has resulted in the capture of thousands of IS fighters, many of whom are now held in prisons and camps across the region. Among the detainees is Shamima Begum, a Londoner who was stripped of her British citizenship in 2019 after joining IS.
The stability of the region has been significantly affected by the sudden fall of Assad’s government in December, replaced by a new Sunni-led government backed by the rebel group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham. This shift has given IS an opportunity to regroup, while Turkey and its allies have escalated attacks on Kurdish forces. The town of Manbij, which had been under SDF control, was recently seized by Turkish-backed forces, aided by airstrikes.
Abdi noted that the Biden administration has been focused on mediating tensions between Turkey and the Syrian Kurdish authorities. He described the situation as “partially stable,” with only sporadic clashes along the Euphrates river. Nevertheless, he stressed that maintaining a US military presence in the region was essential for future stability.
The Kurdish leader warned that if US forces were withdrawn, the situation could descend into chaos, potentially leading to another civil war, as multiple factions, including Turkey, would threaten the Kurdish-held areas. Turkey has long been opposed to Kurdish independence, viewing some Syrian Kurdish groups, such as the YPG and YPJ, as affiliates of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is banned in Turkey.
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There had been previous reports suggesting that 900 US troops were stationed in north-east Syria, but the Pentagon later confirmed that the actual figure was around 2,000. In 2019, President Trump had declared his intention to withdraw US troops from Syria, a move that was followed by a Turkish offensive against the Kurds. Trump defended his decision, stating that the Kurds had not fought alongside the US in World War II, but later backtracked after widespread criticism.
As Trump prepares for his return to office later this month, speculation about the future of US troops in Syria is mounting. On Tuesday, Trump praised Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during a press conference but refrained from revealing whether US troops would be withdrawn, calling the issue a matter of military strategy.
Abdi has called on European countries to continue supporting the SDF while Trump considers his options. He reminded European allies that the SDF had fought not only for their own people but also against IS on behalf of the wider anti-IS coalition. “We hope European countries will continue to stand with us,” Abdi concluded, emphasising the shared responsibility of defeating terrorism and maintaining stability in the region.
