Syrian government forces have assumed control of the strategic al-Tanf military base near the borders with Iraq and Jordan, following the withdrawal of United States troops who had maintained a long-standing presence at the installation.
In a statement released on Thursday, Syria’s Ministry of Defence said units of the Syrian Arab Army had secured the base and its surrounding areas “through coordination between the Syrian and American sides.” The ministry added that army units have begun deploying along the nearby Syrian-Iraqi-Jordanian border, with border guard forces expected to take up positions in the coming days.
Al-Tanf was established in 2014 during Syria’s civil war as a key operational hub for the US-led international coalition against ISIL (ISIS). At the time, the armed group controlled vast swathes of territory across Syria and Iraq before being territorially defeated in 2017.
The US military has not formally commented on the withdrawal. However, President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in reducing or ending the American military presence in Syria, a position he has maintained since his first term in office.
The transition at al-Tanf comes months after Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa — formerly the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, once designated by the US as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” — joined the anti-ISIL coalition in November, marking a significant shift in Syria’s diplomatic and military posture.
Syrian Government Expands Control
The US drawdown also follows a Washington-brokered agreement to integrate the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) — a key US partner in the fight against ISIL — into Syrian state institutions. US officials described the deal as a major step toward national unity and reconciliation.
In recent weeks, Syrian government forces have expanded their footprint in northeastern Syria, capturing large areas that were previously under SDF control. The advances sparked deadly clashes before a ceasefire was brokered between the two sides.
Amid the shifting control of territory, US forces have reportedly overseen the transfer of thousands of ISIL detainees from prisons previously managed by the SDF to facilities now under Syrian government authority.
US Military Drawdown
The size of the US military presence in Syria has fluctuated over the years, often without precise public disclosure due to the classified nature of operations. A Pentagon statement in July 2025 indicated that approximately 1,500 American troops were stationed in Syria at the time. That number has since declined, with The Associated Press reporting the current deployment at about 900 personnel.
Earlier this month, journalists on the ground observed signs of a US drawdown in the al-Shaddadi area of northeastern Hasakah province. US troops were seen vacating watchtowers around a military installation, lowering the American flag, and removing equipment used to manage aircraft operations at the base’s airstrip.
Despite the reduction in forces, the US has continued operations against ISIL remnants. In January, American forces carried out what were described as “large-scale” strikes in Syria following a December ambush in Palmyra that killed two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter.
The handover of al-Tanf marks a significant development in Syria’s evolving security landscape, signaling both a consolidation of control by Damascus and a continued recalibration of the US military footprint in the region.
