ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - An estimated 2,000 Islamic State (ISIS) militants remain active in Syria’s vast desert regions, a spokesperson for a faction aligned with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) warned in an interview with Rudaw, highlighting the group’s ongoing efforts to regroup.
The US-backed SDF serves as the de facto army of northeast Syria (Rojava).
Mahmoud Habib, spokesperson for the North Democratic Forces - a component of the SDF - said on Tuesday, “There are no fewer than 2,000 militants in the Syrian desert,” citing Western intelligence reports that indicate “significant movements” among ISIS elements.
The Syrian Desert, or Badiya, spans approximately 500,000 square kilometers, covering about 55 percent of Syria’s total landmass. Located primarily in the country’s southeast, it stretches across several key governorates, including Deir ez-Zor, Hasaka and Raqqa, as well as parts of Hama, Homs, and Rif Dimashq. Major cities, including Damascus and Palmyra, lie within or along the fringes of this vast arid region.
Habib emphasized that the desert’s rugged terrain and lack of consistent oversight provide ideal conditions for ISIS to regroup, operate, and finance its activities. “The threat remains high, particularly for Syrian population centers and cities,” he warned.
In response to the enduring ISIS threat, Habib predicted that the United States is likely to maintain its military presence in Syria for the foreseeable future. “The presence of US forces in Syria has become a strategic decision for the US administration and is not expected to change anytime soon,” he said.
Habib added that Washington is consolidating its presence by shifting to “two massive bases in northeast Syria [Rojava]” to enhance operational efficiency and security.” This restructuring ensures continued support for the SDF’s counter-terrorism efforts, he elaborated.
"US forces are staying and [the forces in] these bases will be able to intervene in required tasks, whether air, ground, or operational,” he insisted.
The remarks come despite the gradual reduction of US troops in Syria.
Rudaw learned in early June that the US is gradually withdrawing troops from Syria, aiming to reduce its presence from roughly 2,000 to about 1,000 forces - a move then confirmed by a US defense official. The official noted that troop levels in Rojava remain flexible and will be “adjusted according to the evolving security situation.”
The remarks followed a mid-April announcement by Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell, who said the “Secretary of Defense directed the consolidation of U.S. forces in Syria under Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve to select locations in Syria.
“This consolidation reflects the significant steps we have made toward degrading ISIS's appeal and operational capability regionally and globally,” he added, noting that “this deliberate and conditions-based process will bring the U.S. footprint in Syria down to less than a thousand U.S. forces in the coming months.”
Despite the reduction, Parnell stressed that the "U.S. Central Command will remain poised to continue strikes against the remnants of ISIS in Syria," Parnell added.
Additionally, the spokesperson for the North Democratic Forces, Habib, also said that the SDF is working toward integration with the Syrian defense ministry.
“Joint committees are examining all the necessary details to achieve this integration,” he said, describing the effort as part of a broader initiative to build a unified, stable Syria free from extremist threats.
This move aligns with the vision of SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi, who has advocated for a unified national army in Syria, Habib underlined.
Mohammed Issa contributed to this piece.
