It is clear to emphasize that such airstrikes will not facilitate US to withdraw from Syria. In fact, it will increase the domestic pressure to restrain and even end US operations in the war-torn country. Although Biden administration has not given any specific plan to withdraw plan from Syria, it is clear that Biden will do his best not to give any reinforcing anti-intervention sentiment in US.
Blinken and some high-ranking officials suggest not to withdraw suddenly but end the conflict with diplomacy. Although there is no clear agenda or strategy to achieve that it seems, these approaches will be seen as US weakness to remain the region. US needs to concentrate on China without losing time since it is not getting easy to convenience the public why US is in Middle East while oil is losing its strategic value. In lack of clear strategy to withdraw and lack of conditions to create peace between Damascus and its rivals in Syria, US seems wobbling how to manage the exit strategy. Moreover, US willingness to protect SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) makes everything complicated.
SDF is important part of the US strategy after exit. By strengthening SDF, US intends to protect its footprint in Syria. However, US is also aware that leaving the country would bring SDF on Russian and Turkey’s range. Therefore, without any clear strategy, US will not make any move.
However, the biggest risk for US will be any clash between Russia or Syrian forces where there are no meaningful threat from ISIS. That would be a unpopular war and will not gain public support. While there are no credible ISIS threat for the last year, it will be unlikely to support any discussion why US still is in Syria while Syria does not support US troops.
Lack of enemy causes US to revise its strategy in Syria. For now, US mission seems to stagnate in Syria. However, if there would be any clash with Syrian or Russian troops ion Syria, it will increase the anti-intervention sentiment in US. Therefore, Biden is aware that he has to create a new plan including exit strategy.
