US forces have withdrawn from the Al-Tanf base in Syria, a site pivotal to the international coalition against the Islamic State group. This move marks a significant shift in the US military presence in the region, confirmed by two Syrian military sources speaking to AFP. One source reported that the American troops completely departed from Al-Tanf, relocating to a new base in Jordan, with Syrian forces moving in to take their place.
Over the past 15 days, the US military had been systematically moving equipment out of Al-Tanf. It has been indicated that despite the geographic shift, US troops will still coordinate operations related to Al-Tanf from their new location in Jordan. Historically, the base has been integral in combating the spread of IS and bolstering local forces.
During the prolonged Syrian civil war, US forces were notably deployed in the northeastern Kurdish-controlled regions and at Al-Tanf, strategically situated near the borders with Jordan and Iraq. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) played a crucial role as a partner in the anti-IS coalition, notably contributing to IS’s territorial defeat in Syria in 2019.
In the current geopolitical context, following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s long-standing regime over a year ago, the US has begun to realign its relationships in the region, seemingly moving closer to the new Syrian government in Damascus. This shift has been underscored by recent statements suggesting the diminishing need for alliances with the Kurds.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s visit to the White House last November marked Syria’s formal agreement to join the anti-IS coalition, reflecting a strategy aimed at consolidating control across all of Syria. As the government seeks to assert its authority, the Kurdish forces have faced pressure to integrate their military and administrative structures into the state’s governance framework, culminating in an agreement after losing significant territory.
In conjunction with this withdrawal, the US has initiated operations to transfer around 7,000 suspected jihadists previously detained by Kurdish fighters to facilities in Iraq. The recent shifts have led to US forces primarily being stationed at the Qasrak base in Hasakeh.
Despite being territorially vanquished, IS has not ceased its operations, as evidenced by a recent attack in Palmyra where a sniper targeting American personnel killed two US soldiers and a civilian. In response, Washington carried out retaliatory strikes against IS operatives in Syria, underscoring the ongoing threat posed by the group.
