The U.S. military will consolidate its presence in Syria over the coming weeks and months in a move that could reduce the number of troops it has in the country by half, chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said on Friday.

The U.S. will shrink its military footprint in Syria over the coming months, bringing troop levels below 1,000. Why it matters: President Trump tried to pull all American forces from the war-ravaged country during his first term.

The U.S. military is withdrawing hundreds of troops from Syria, a shift the Pentagon is framing as a “consolidation” that reflects the changing security environment in the country. “Recognizing