Defense Priorities Defense Priorities
  • Policy Topics
    • Iran
    • Western Hemisphere
    • Ukraine-Russia
    • NATO
    • China
    • Syria
  • Analysis
    • Research
    • Q&A
  • Programs
    • Grand Strategy Program
    • Military Analysis Program
    • Asia Program
    • Middle East Program
  • Experts
  • Events
  • Media
  • About
    • Mission & Vision
    • People
    • Jobs
    • Contact
  • Donate
Select Page
Home / Syria / Remove U.S. troops from needless risk in Syria
Syria, Middle East

August 25, 2022

Remove U.S. troops from needless risk in Syria

By Daniel Davis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 25, 2022
Contact: press@defensepriorities.org

WASHINGTON, DC—The U.S. has conducted military strikes in Syria multiple times within a 24-hour period. Defense Priorities Senior Fellow and Military Expert Lt. Col. Daniel L. Davis. USA, Ret. issued the following statement in response:

“It is a non-negotiable obligation for any president to protect American troops. But part of that protection includes not putting U.S. soldiers in pointless danger. The U.S. troops currently deployed in Syria are not performing any service in support of vital American interests—they help the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces alone.

“As just demonstrated with the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Zawahiri, the United States has a powerful ability to identify and successfully strike any direct threat to our country, regardless of where in the world the threat resides and without the need for permanent troops on the ground.
“President Biden can best protect our troops and safeguard American interests by quickly withdrawing all U.S. servicemembers from Syria. No Americans were killed in this latest attack, but it would be irresponsible for the president to keep U.S. forces there with no justifying mission, risking American casualties in a future attack. No American should ever be asked to sacrifice their life for a mission that is not tied to defending U.S. national security.”

Author

Photo of Daniel Davis

Daniel
Davis

Senior Fellow & Military Expert

Defense Priorities

More on Syria

Press ReleaseSyria, Middle East

Drawdown from Syria a success worth scaling

By Rosemary Kelanic

February 12, 2026

op-edSyria, Middle East

What the latest ceasefire and unification deal means for Syria

By Alexander Langlois

February 9, 2026

op-edSyria, Middle East

The U.S. couldn’t prop up the Kurds forever

By Rosemary Kelanic

February 4, 2026

op-edSyria, Middle East

The U.S. should pull the plug on its Syria deployment

By Daniel DePetris

February 1, 2026

op-edMiddle East, Iran, Israel‑Hamas, Israel‑Iran, Syria

Trump’s Middle East policy is teetering on overextension

By William Walldorf

January 29, 2026

op-edSyria, Middle East

The U.S. is adapting its Syria strategy. Here’s why that’s a problem.

By Alexander Langlois

January 28, 2026

Events on Syria

See All Events
virtualMiddle East, Basing and force posture, Diplomacy, Houthis, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Israel‑Hamas, Military analysis, Syria

Trump in the Middle East: Impacts, implications, and alternatives

May 16, 2025
virtualSyria, Balance of power, Basing and force posture, Counterterrorism, Middle East, Military analysis

Syria after Assad: Prospects for U.S. withdrawal

February 21, 2025
virtualMiddle East, Iran, Israel‑Hamas, Israel‑Iran, Syria, Yemen

Keeping the U.S. out of war in the Middle East

January 16, 2024

Receive expert foreign policy analysis

Join the hub of realism and restraint

Expert updates and analysis to enhance your understanding of vital U.S. national security issues

Defense Priority Mono Logo

Our mission is to inform citizens, thought leaders, and policymakers of the importance of a strong, dynamic military—used more judiciously to protect America’s narrowly defined national interests—and promote a realistic grand strategy prioritizing restraint, diplomacy, and free trade to ensure U.S. security.

  • Research
  • Experts
  • About
  • For Media
  • Jobs
  • Donate
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact
© 2026 Defense Priorities All Right Reserved