Washington, DC – Two USA officials reported that American forces have fully withdrawn from the al-Tanf military base in southeastern Syria and handed it over to Syrian government forces, marking a significant shift in the USA military presence within Syrian territory.
Reuters quoted the officials on Thursday as saying that the withdrawal was complete,
without disclosing further details regarding the implementation mechanism or the accompanying security arrangements.
This development comes at a time of rapid military and political transformations in the region.
The al-Tanf base is strategically located at the border triangle between Syria, Jordan, and Iraq,
giving it particular importance since its establishment in 2014 during the Syrian civil war.
The base served as a major hub for operations by the USA-led international coalition against ISIS
and as a crucial point for monitoring movements in the Syrian desert and along supply lines between Iraq and Syria.
The USA withdrawal from al-Tanf is seen as a move that could reshape the balance of power in this sensitive region,
especially given its proximity to vital supply routes connecting several regional actors.
The decision also raises questions about the future of the USA presence in other parts of Syria,
particularly in the northeast, where USA forces are deployed as part of the mission to support the fight against ISIS.
No detailed official statement has yet been issued by the USA Department of Defense or the Syrian government regarding the repercussions of this move.
Observers expect the withdrawal to have direct consequences for security arrangements in the border triangle
and for the nature of coordination among the various actors involved in the Syrian conflict.
This development comes within the context of a broader reassessment of the USA military presence in the Middle East,
amidst the political and security shifts the region has witnessed recently.
