The U.S. will withdraw about 600 troops from Syria, leaving fewer than 1,000 to work with Kurdish allies to counter the Islamic State group, a U.S. official said Thursday. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss details not yet announced publicly.

The end of the Assad era has reduced some threats, but the Islamic State has shown renewed strength in the country.

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