Gen. Michael Kurilla, commander of US Central Command, spoke to the US House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday and discussed efforts the US military is taking in Syria. Rep. Abraham Hamadeh (R-Arizona) asked him to describe what is happening in Syria and what might come next.

This is a key moment in the Middle East. The Assad regime has fallen, and there is a new government in Damascus.The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are speaking directly to the new government, which is led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, Kurilla said.

Hamadeh said ISIS was mostly defeated, and there is an agreement to integrate the SDF into the government’s forces. Both Kurilla and Hamadeh referred to the SDF as mostly a Kurdish force.

The integration was going well, Kurilla said, adding that there are some sticking points. Turkey has played a positive role, he said.

Asked about whether this integration might include other minorities, Kurilla said he was focused on the US partner forces, the SDF, and their integration. Things are on a good path at the moment, he said.Another issue they discussed was what will happen with US forces in Syria. 

A soldier from the US-led coalition stands guard during a joint patrol in the countryside of Qamishli in northeastern Syria. February 8, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/Orhan Qereman)
A soldier from the US-led coalition stands guard during a joint patrol in the countryside of Qamishli in northeastern Syria. February 8, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/Orhan Qereman)
The US is redeploying its forces in Syria. This means moving them from several posts in eastern Syria to one or more posts. That is a consolidation.

There are questions about how long the US forces will stay. Hundreds of troops are likely to leave as things change on the ground. The US also has a post called Al-Tanf garrison in southern Syria.

Hamadeh asked Kurilla about the US counter-operations against ISIS in Syria, which include training and equipping the SDF. He asked whether this could shift to training and equipping the Syrian army.

The Syrian government is trying to consolidate armed groups in Syria, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and others that had been fighting the Assad regime.

Kurilla said it was important to “wait and see” whether the US might train, equip, or play a role with the Syrian government forces.

He was asked whether there are concerns about foreign fighters being integrated into the Syrian government forces. Kurilla said it was important to take a wait-and-see approach regarding concerns about foreign fighters integrating with the new armed forces of Damascus.

This assessment will apparently be made in the future.

The back-and-forth regarding Syria was important because Kurilla is the top US general in the region, and he has played a key role in recent years on a variety of issues.

The US role in eastern Syria faced challenges because the SDF often faced opposition from Turkey, a NATO ally of the US. This meant the US was often partnering with the SDF and also dealing with Ankara’s desire to bomb the SDF, claiming it is linked to “terrorist” groups.

There is no evidence tthat he SDF is involved in any terrorism. Nevertheless, Ankara opposes the PKK in Turkey, a Kurdish militant group, and believes the SDF has links to the PKK.

US role in Syria has changed

As such, the US role in eastern Syria was always complex. Its role in Al-Tanf, training a small Syrian rebel group, was also complex. Things have now changed.

The SDF is a large armed force, and if it integrates with the Syrian army, it will help make the new Syrian army more competent and help anchor security in eastern Syria and the Middle Euphrates River Valley.

Hamadeh spoke about US President Donald Trump’s vision for the Middle East.

“It is incredible to see President Trump’s bold vision and a Middle East defined by ‘commerce, not chaos,” he said. “Those words are backed by decisive actions that nobody dreamed possible. President Trump changed Syria’s path overnight from endless bloodshed towards hope.”

Trump met Sharaa last month in Riyadh. He also appointed US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack as the new US envoy to Syria last month.

Barrack has hit the ground running, Hamadeh said.

Barrack praised Hamadeh’s questions in a post on X/Twitter. Syria’s changes illustrate that “a new tapestry being weaved,” he wrote.