Syrian infighting spotlights existing US troop presence

Published January 23, 2026 1:49pm ET



The Sharaa government’s defeat of the American military’s long-time allies, the Kurds, raises new questions about the longevity of the existing U.S. military mission in Syria.

The U.S.-backed Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces effectively capitulated to the Syrian government after suffering significant losses from a major offensive by government forces against long-held Kurdish areas.

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