Senior US defense official declines to detail Syria withdrawal plans in open hearing

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - During testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby on Tuesday declined to publicly address specific operational questions regarding US troop movements in Syria.

Asked by Sen. Jacky Rosen whether the Pentagon intends to fully withdraw American forces and how it assesses the ISIS (Daesh) threat, Colby stopped short of offering detailed answers in the open hearing.

"Well, I won't speak specifically about some of those issues, just in the open hearing," Colby said, signaling the sensitivity of the matter.

Last month, US forces began pulling out of their largest base, Qasrak, in northeastern Syria.

While withholding specifics, Colby emphasized that the Trump administration remains committed to a sustained counterterrorism campaign, noting that the broader National Defense Strategy incorporates long-term efforts against extremist threats.

"We have a political strategy in Syria being led, obviously, by the State Department and others," Colby added.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it completed the orderly departure of US forces from al-Tanf Garrison in Syria on Feb. 11 as part of a deliberate and conditions-based transition by Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR).

The US maintains roughly 1,000 service members in Syria.