Hasakah Province, Syria – Syrian army forces have taken control of the al-Shaddadi military base in northeastern Syria following the withdrawal of United States troops, according to announcements from the Syrian Ministry of Defence. The move, confirmed by multiple sources, represents the latest step in the ongoing realignment of forces in the region and the implementation of a ceasefire arrangement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The Syrian Ministry of Defence stated on that “forces of the Syrian Arab Army have taken over the al-Shaddadi military base in the Hasakah countryside following coordination with the American side.” The US had maintained a presence at al-Shaddadi since , after Kurdish forces wrested control of the base from ISIS. This follows the Syrian army’s seizure of the US base at al-Tanf, near the border with Iraq and Jordan, on .
The withdrawal of US forces from both al-Shaddadi and al-Tanf signals a significant reduction in the American military footprint in Syria. Previously numbering around 2,000 personnel in , the US presence has reportedly dwindled to approximately 900 troops, consolidating its ground presence at Tower 22 in Jordan. Despite the troop reductions, the US continues to conduct air strikes against ISIS targets within Syria, with US Central Command (CENTCOM) reporting 10 air strikes on 30 targets between and , resulting in the deaths or capture of over 50 individuals over the past two months.
The shift in US strategy comes after a period of evolving relationships in the region. Syria became a member of the US-led anti-ISIS coalition in following a meeting between the new Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara, a former Al Qaeda operative, and US President Donald Trump. This development occurred after the formation of a new Syrian government by rebels who ousted President Bashar Al Assad in , leading Washington to begin normalizing ties with the Damascus regime. Concurrently, support for the SDF, which had been a key US partner in the fight against ISIS, has diminished since the middle of .
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged the complexities of the situation, stating that the implementation of the ceasefire agreement was “headed in a positive direction,” despite acknowledging “concerning” periods. “We have to keep it on that trajectory. We’ve got good agreements in place. The key now is implementation, and we’ll be very involved in that regard,” Rubio told reporters. He also emphasized the need for similar agreements with other communities within Syria, including the Druze, Bedouin, and Alawite populations.
Residents near al-Shaddadi have reported witnessing activity at the base in the weeks leading up to the handover. According to reports, explosions and fires were observed as US forces destroyed remaining equipment in preparation for their departure. This suggests a deliberate and coordinated withdrawal, aimed at facilitating the transfer of control to the Syrian army.
The US military’s rationale for the withdrawal, as articulated by a security source, is a shift towards a “training and logistics support operation for the new government.” The source also suggested that reducing the US presence could mitigate the risk of Iranian retaliation, particularly given the escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran. Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, stated that US forces “remain poised to respond to any [ISIS] threats that arise,” indicating a continued commitment to counter-terrorism efforts in the region, even with a reduced ground presence.
The handover at al-Shaddadi, following the earlier transfer of al-Tanf, underscores a broader trend of shifting alliances and strategic realignments in Syria. The integration of the SDF into central Syrian institutions, as brokered by Washington, is a key component of this process. The long-term implications of these changes remain to be seen, but they represent a significant turning point in the Syrian conflict and the role of external actors within the country. The situation remains fluid, and continued monitoring of the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and the evolving security landscape will be crucial in the coming months.
