The United States is in Syria for a mix of counterterrorism and geopolitical reasons, rooted in how the Syrian war and ISIS evolved since 2011.
How it started
The U.S. military presence in Syria grew out of the Syrian civil war that began after mass protests in 2011 were violently repressed by the Assad government, turning into a multi‑sided conflict. Initially, Washington tried to avoid a big ground war, supporting some rebel groups and later moving to more direct action as ISIS expanded across Syria and Iraq.
Main stated mission: ISIS
From 2014–2015, the U.S. officially intervened with airstrikes and special forces under what became Operation Inherent Resolve, with the declared aim of “degrading and ultimately destroying” ISIS. Even after ISIS lost its territorial “caliphate,” several hundred to roughly 900 U.S. troops remained to conduct counterterrorism operations and help local partners prevent an ISIS resurgence.
Partnership with Kurdish-led forces
U.S. forces work closely with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeastern Syria, who provided most of the ground troops against ISIS. The small U.S. footprint also acts as a tripwire that makes it harder for Turkey, the Syrian government, or other actors to attack these Kurdish-aligned forces directly.
Broader geopolitical goals
Beyond ISIS, the U.S. presence helps limit Iranian influence and the movement of Iran-backed militias and weapons across Iraq and Syria toward Lebanon and Israel. Holding positions near key oil and gas fields in the northeast also provides leverage over Damascus and other powers in determining Syria’s political and economic future.
Why the mission continues
Officials frame the mission as keeping a small force on the ground so local partners, not large U.S. units, bear most of the fighting burden if extremists regroup. Critics argue the goals are now vague and open‑ended, but for now the combination of counter‑ISIS operations, support to Kurdish-led forces, and checking Iran remains the main rationale for staying.
