Trump Defends Continued US Troop Presence in Syria, Citing Goal of ‘Peace in the Middle East’ After Deadly Attack

President Donald Trump on Monday defended the continued deployment of American troops in Syria, arguing that their presence is essential to maintaining what he described as a fragile but historic period of peace across the Middle East. His remarks came just days after a deadly ambush in central Syria killed two U.S. service members and a civilian interpreter, marking the first American fatalities in the country since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al‑Assad last year.

Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump responded to a question about why U.S. forces remain stationed in Syria more than a decade after their initial deployment. “We’re trying to make sure that there’s going to be and remain peace in the Middle East,” he said. “And Syria is a big part of it.”

The president praised Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al‑Sharaa, calling him a “strong person” capable of stabilizing a region long fractured by conflict. Trump said the Middle East is experiencing “legitimate peace… for the first time in 3,000 years,” though he acknowledged uncertainty about whether groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah would uphold long‑term calm.

Deadly Ambush Sparks Renewed Scrutiny

The attack that prompted renewed questions about U.S. strategy occurred Saturday near the ancient city of Palmyra. According to Pentagon officials, an alleged ISIS‑linked gunman opened fire on a joint U.S.–Syrian patrol, killing two Army Guardsmen — Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres‑Tovar and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard — along with a civilian interpreter. Three additional Guardsmen were injured.

The incident is the first fatal attack on U.S. personnel in Syria since Assad’s ouster in December 2024, a political shift that dramatically reshaped U.S.–Syrian relations and led to closer coordination between Washington and the new Syrian government.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the ambush occurred at the entrance to a fortified Internal Security Forces compound following a joint patrol. The attacker was killed at the scene, and an investigation is ongoing.

White House and Pentagon Promise Retaliation

Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth vowed swift and forceful retaliation. Hegseth described the attack as “savage” and warned that any group targeting Americans “will spend the rest of [their] brief, anxious life knowing the United States will hunt you, find you and ruthlessly kill you.”

Within days, the U.S. military launched “Operation Hawkeye Strike,” hitting more than 70 ISIS‑linked targets across central and eastern Syria using fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery. Jordanian forces also participated in the operation, according to U.S. Central Command.

Trump later said the strikes were “very successful” and part of a broader strategy to “restore peace through strength.”

A Shifting Mission in a Changing Syria

The U.S. has maintained a military presence in Syria since 2015, initially focused on dismantling ISIS’s territorial control. Although the extremist group lost its last stronghold in 2019, sleeper cells continue to operate across the country’s vast desert regions.

Today, roughly 900–1,000 U.S. troops remain in Syria, primarily stationed in Kurdish‑controlled areas in the northeast and at the al‑Tanf base near the Iraqi and Jordanian borders.

Since the fall of Assad, the U.S. has developed warmer ties with the new Syrian government under al‑Sharaa, who has aligned the country with the international coalition against ISIS. However, Syrian forces have not formally joined Operation Inherent Resolve, the long‑running U.S.‑led mission in the region.

Trump credited the U.S. presence — and past American strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure — with enabling recent diplomatic breakthroughs. “If we didn’t knock out their nuclear capability, we would have never had peace in the Middle East,” he said, pointing to a model B‑2 bomber on his desk as he spoke.

Looking Ahead

Despite the president’s assurances, the attack has reignited debate in Washington over the long‑term role of U.S. forces in Syria. Critics argue that the mission lacks a clear endpoint, while supporters say the deployment remains vital to preventing an ISIS resurgence and stabilizing a region still emerging from years of war.

For now, Trump insists the troops will stay.

“It’s been amazing what’s taken place in Syria,” he said. “We’re going to make sure it stays that way.”