Why Does America Have Forces in Syria?

The United States has come under criticism for stationing its troops in Syria, which many have deemed a violation of international law and an affront to global norms of civilized behavior. American troops in the country’s eastern provinces of Hasakah and Deir Ez-Zor have taken control of oilfields, illegally pumping out around 80% of Syria’s daily oil output. Additionally, US troops are also present at al-Tanf in southern Syria, where they have been protecting fighters of the Islamist group al-Thawra.

However, one important aspect that many critics seem to have missed is the strategic position these 900 soldiers and their allies play in the region. Together with Kurdish and other ethnic groups, American forces control the dams and flow of the Euphrates River which runs through Syria and into Iraq. This river serves as the lifeline for both countries, and those who control it wield immense power. In addition to water, the region also has a lot of oil and gas, with most of Syria’s oil fields located there. Innovative local democratic councils have used the income from oil and gas sales to fuel rapid recovery and growth since the war, which is absent in most parts of Syria.

Given this significant progress and the outsized regional power that the US presence has brought, it would be difficult to justify removing American troops unless the goal is to help Russia and Iran control the region. It is important not to forget this reality, given the significance of water as the future of the region, not oil.

On the other hand, some argue that Syria is just a sideshow in the real threat, which is the alignment between Iran, Russia, and China. Maintaining a fight in Syria while going soft on Iran seems like a counterproductive strategy. Progress would be made if the US responded to missile attacks with strikes on Iran proper, which might actually deter them. However, some argue that the Biden administration has not gotten a single foreign policy question correct despite its best efforts to broker a deal on Iran’s nuclear program while the country lobs weapons at American troops.

While the US may argue that its presence in Syria is for the greater good, it remains a fact that they are in the country illegally and without permission. The absence of a declaration of war and no authorization from the AUMF has led many to see the situation as a violation of international laws and the UN charter. Unfortunately, it seems that not many are taking notice of this alarming situation.

The issue of American troops in Syria has also led to a divided opinion on President Trump’s order to withdraw all American forces from the country. The military had told Trump that they had left the country, but this was proven false. This show of insubordination highlights the possibility of losing civilian control of the military, especially with people like Gen. Milley who called his Chinese counterpart to say that if the US launched an attack, he would inform him ahead of time.

The Senate has recently overturned the AUMF that was previously used by the Obama administration to put US troops into Syria and keep them there. The House is expected to follow suit. Unless Biden goes back to Congress for additional war-powers authority, there would be no legal basis for keeping troops in Syria. Such an endeavor may be disastrous, especially given the recent US casualties in the region.