Joe Biden

Antony Blinken

The Institute for the Study of War

Mona Yacoubian

J.D. Vance

Michael McCaul

Aron Lund

Ali al-Hassan

Carsten Wieland

Colin P. Clarke

Michael Erik Kurilla

Aymenn Al-Tamimi

Daniel Shapiro

Sinam Mohamad

"It's not necessarily the case that IS manages to regroup and make big gains."

"There should be no doubt — we will not allow ISIS to reconstitute and take advantage of the current situation in Syria."

"ISIS is likely already exploiting the post-Assad situation in Syria to continue its slow reconstitution in central Syria."

"[T]he chaos & anarchy [following the fall of the Assad regime] will inevitably be a boon to the Islamic State."

"ISIS will try to use this period to re-establish its capabilities, to create safe havens."

"We're clear-eyed about the fact that ISIS will try to take advantage of any vacuum to reestablish its capabilities to create a safe haven."

Will the Islamic State Return to Syria?

The U.S. is purportedly preparing to establish a military presence at a Damascus airbase to facilitate a potential security pact between Syria and Israel, according to an exclusive report from Reuters.

The Times of Israel

Thecradle.Co

The U.S. is purportedly preparing to establish a military presence at a Damascus airbase to facilitate a potential security pact between Syria and Israel, according to an exclusive report from Reuters.

Washington has been working to finalize an agreement between the two countries for months, with reports emerging at the end of October that a deal along the lines of the 1974 accord, with minor adjustments, was nearing completion.

Reuters

I24News

Al Arabiya English

Washington has been working to finalize an agreement between the two countries for months, with reports emerging at the end of October that a deal along the lines of the 1974 accord, with minor adjustments, was nearing completion.

Officials speaking to Reuters said the U.S. will use the airbase to monitor the agreement and was selected after Pentagon reconnaissance missions determined it was ready for immediate use. The U.S. reportedly tested the facility by landing a C-130 Hercules on its runway.

Officials speaking to Reuters said the U.S. will use the airbase to monitor the agreement and was selected after Pentagon reconnaissance missions determined it was ready for immediate use. The U.S. reportedly tested the facility by landing a C-130 Hercules on its runway.

Syrian military sources, meanwhile, revealed that technical discussions focused on using the airbase for “logistics, surveillance, refueling and humanitarian operations,” with Syria to retain full sovereignty over the facility. Syria's foreign ministry, however, said that Reuters' report was "false."

Syrian military sources, meanwhile, revealed that technical discussions focused on using the airbase for “logistics, surveillance, refueling and humanitarian operations,” with Syria to retain full sovereignty over the facility. Syria's foreign ministry, however, said that Reuters' report was "false."

The reports came ahead of a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/trump-to-host-syrian-president-in-historic-white-house-visit">planned meeting between Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and U.S. President Donald Trump </a>at the White House next Monday, following their last meeting in May and Trump’s subsequent termination of the country’s sanctions in June.

Trump White House

Youtube

FOX News

CBS News

The reports came ahead of a planned meeting between Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House next Monday, following their last meeting in May and Trump’s subsequent termination of the country’s sanctions in June.

In April, the Pentagon announced plans to reduce the U.S. presence in Syria under Operation Inherent Resolve to fewer than 1,000 troops. A quarterly report published in July confirmed that U.S. forces had already withdrawn from three bases in the country.

Trump Department of War

In April, the Pentagon announced plans to reduce the U.S. presence in Syria under Operation Inherent Resolve to fewer than 1,000 troops. A quarterly report published in July confirmed that U.S. forces had already withdrawn from three bases in the country.

If the details of this report are accurate, this is a stunning geopolitical coup for the United States. By taking control of the airbase, America has seized a golden opportunity to cement its foothold in Syria and further its influence in a region that not too long ago was aligned with its adversaries. Rival powers like Russia will surely be left scrambling at this development.

If the details of this report are accurate, this is a stunning geopolitical coup for the United States. By taking control of the airbase, America has seized a golden opportunity to cement its foothold in Syria and further its influence in a region that not too long ago was aligned with its adversaries. Rival powers like Russia will surely be left scrambling at this development.

Voice From The East

EasternVoices

Ian Bremmer

ianbremmer

Pro-establishment narrative

With its primary objectives in the region already complete, it would be a mistake for the U.S. to double down on its presence in Syria. With Assad gone and ISIS practically defeated, a total U.S. withdrawal from Syria is the only policy that makes sense, unless the administration wants to commit vital resources to a threat of diminishing strategic value.

With its primary objectives in the region already complete, it would be a mistake for the U.S. to double down on its presence in Syria. With Assad gone and ISIS practically defeated, a total U.S. withdrawal from Syria is the only policy that makes sense, unless the administration wants to commit vital resources to a threat of diminishing strategic value.

Stars and Stripes

Now is the time for the US to get its troops out of Syria

Establishment-critical narrative

Rather than forging genuine peace, this move would serve as a strategic hedge for Washington — positioning a “base” in Damascus under the guise of a pact, while locking in long-term access and surveillance power in the heart of Syria, effectively leasing influence more than securing stability.

Rather than forging genuine peace, this move would serve as a strategic hedge for Washington — positioning a “base” in Damascus under the guise of a pact, while locking in long-term access and surveillance power in the heart of Syria, effectively leasing influence more than securing stability.

Ali Khamenei

Khamenei_m

Newsweek

Iran Issues Warning About US Bases in Syria

Cynical narrative

There is a 10% chance that Syria will be partitioned into new, internationally recognized sovereign states before 2040, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There is a 10% chance that Syria will be partitioned into new, internationally recognized sovereign states before 2040, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Metaculus

Will Syria be partitioned into new, internationally recognized sovereign states before 2040?

Nerd narrative

Donald Trump

Ahmed al-Sharaa