As U.S. Withdraws, Top General Warns of Islamic State Threat in Syria, Reports Reuters

By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali

WASHINGTON – A senior U.S. general issued a warning on Tuesday that the Islamic State will continue to pose a significant threat following the planned withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria. He emphasized that the group still possesses leadership, fighters, facilitators, and resources to sustain a dangerous insurgency.

General Joseph Votel, who heads the U.S. military’s Central Command, expressed concerns which reflect ongoing apprehensions from various U.S. officials regarding the potential resurgence of the Islamic State after a U.S. withdrawal from Syria was ordered in December by President Donald Trump.

“We must maintain pressure on this network… They can regroup if we do not,” Votel stated during a hearing with the Senate Armed Services Committee. He noted that the territory held by the Islamic State has contracted to less than 20 square miles and indicated that U.S.-backed forces would reclaim this land before the withdrawal, which he affirmed would be executed in a “deliberate and coordinated manner.”

Votel revealed that he was not consulted prior to Trump’s unexpected decision to withdraw over 2,000 American troops from Syria, a move that contributed to the resignation of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.

The withdrawal has sparked notable dissent among some members of Trump’s own Republican party, with the Senate recently supporting legislation that largely opposes any hasty troop withdrawal from Syria and Afghanistan. This legislation warns that a rapid exit could destabilize the region and create a power vacuum that might be exploited by Iran or Russia.

Military officials have confirmed that the withdrawal process has already begun, involving the addition of hundreds of troops to facilitate an orderly exit and the removal of equipment from Syria. Personnel drawdown is expected to follow soon.

As President Trump prepares to deliver a State of the Union address, he is anticipated to highlight U.S. achievements in Syria and declare the Islamic State nearly defeated, while discussing his plans for troop reduction.

However, the president’s optimistic rhetoric may contrast with the warnings from various sectors of his administration, including General Votel’s command and the broader military establishment.

The Pentagon’s internal watchdog released a report indicating that the Islamic State continues to operate as an active insurgent entity, with the potential to regenerate its capabilities more swiftly in Iraq compared to Syria. The report suggests that without sustained counterterrorism pressure, the group might re-emerge in Syria within six to 12 months, regaining limited territory.

Furthermore, a United Nations report highlighted the Islamic State’s transformation into a covert network, retaining centralized leadership with resources estimated at up to $300 million and maintaining a force of thousands of fighters across Syria and Iraq. The report identifies the group as “the most ambitious international terrorist organization, likely to execute large-scale, complex attacks in the near future.”

Concerns were also raised about foreign fighters returning from conflict zones, as well as the radicalization of women and minors, which could further elevate the threat level posed by the Islamic State.