What a U.S. withdrawal from Syria would mean for the Kurdish forces left behind

3. What would a U.S. withdrawal mean for the YPG?
Trump’s announcement of a U.S. exit from Syria has elicited concern about the fate of the group. It has one eye on Turkish forces massed to the north, who have repeatedly attacked it despite being part of the same coalition against Islamic State. It has the other eye on Syrian government forces to the southwest, who with the help of their Russian allies are determined to recapture all of prewar Syria. U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham said after a White House meeting that Trump was talking to U.S. commanders to make sure “our Kurdish allies are protected.”

4. What might follow a U.S. withdrawal?
Turkey has announced plans to extend its anti-YPG offensive into territory U.S. forces would vacate under Trump’s plan, including the town of Manbij, and already the Turkish military has sent hundreds more vehicles and troops into Syria. The YPG has gone so far as to invite Syrian army units to move near Manbij to counter Turkey’s buildup.