The US is preparing to largely withdraw its remaining troops from Syria over the next few months, a senior White House official has told the BBC.
The official said the Syrian government has agreed to take the lead combatting terrorism within its borders and US military presence "at scale" is no longer required.
American troops have been in Syria since 2015, as part of an anti-terrorism campaign to counter the influence of the Islamic State (ISIS).
The decision came as US President Donald Trump ramps up military presence in the Middle East as tensions mount with Iran.
The official noted that the decision to remove the roughly 1,000 remaining troops from Syria is part of a conditions-based transition, and that the US remains ready to respond to any threats in the region.
