Yedioth Ahronoth: The United States informs Israel of its withdrawal date from Syria
Israeli Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, revealed on Tuesday that the United States intends to begin gradually withdrawing its forces from Syria over the coming period.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, US security officials informed the Israeli military that the withdrawal will begin within the next two months.
The Israeli newspaper quoted Israeli sources as saying that Tel Aviv is exerting pressure on Washington in an attempt to postpone this decision, amid growing fears of expanding Turkish influence in the region, especially in the absence of a US presence.
Although US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw US forces from Syria wasn’t a surprise—he had previously stated this since taking office on January 20—the timing of the move is causing concern among Israeli decision-makers.
Israel believes that the US withdrawal could open the way for Türkiye to seize control of more vital sites in Syria, which could upset the regional balance and increase tensions between Ankara and Tel Aviv.
In previous statements, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized that his country doesn’t seek a direct confrontation with Israel within Syrian territory, despite Tel Aviv’s continued airstrikes on Syrian regime military sites.
During a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, Fidan noted that Israeli actions “contribute to creating instability that could impact the future of the region,” adding that any understandings between Damascus and Tel Aviv are an internal Syrian affair.
It’s worth noting that Tel Aviv is closely monitoring Turkish movements in Syria, particularly following the collapse of Assad’s regime.
Israel believes Ankara is seeking to strengthen its presence by supporting the interim government.
This has prompted Israel to strengthen its control in areas of southwestern Syria as a precautionary measure.
