News|ISIL/ISISSyrian army takes control of al-Tanf military base as US troops pull outSyria’s defence ministry says its forces have taken control of the strategic base amid coordination with the US.
The Syrian Ministry of Defense has announced that Syrian forces have assumed control of the strategic al-Tanf military base, located near the borders of Iraq and Jordan. This follows the withdrawal of United States troops that had been stationed there.
The Syrian Ministry of Defense has announced that Syrian forces have assumed control of the strategic al-Tanf military base, located near the borders of Iraq and Jordan. This follows the withdrawal of United States troops that had been stationed there.
In a statement, the Ministry confirmed that units of the Syrian Arab Army have secured al-Tanf and its surrounding areas. This transition was coordinated between the Syrian and American sides. Army units have begun deployment along the Syrian-Iraqi-Jordanian border, with additional border guards expected to follow shortly.
The al-Tanf base was initially established in 2014 as a central hub for operations by the global coalition against ISIL (ISIS). The coalition successfully diminished ISIL's control over large regions in Syria and Iraq by 2017.
The recent US withdrawal marks a significant shift in ongoing military operations. The withdrawal aligns with a US-brokered agreement to integrate the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into Syrian government institutions. This agreement aims to foster national unity and reconciliation in Syria.
The Syrian Ministry of Defense has announced that Syrian forces have assumed control of the strategic al-Tanf military base, located near the borders of Iraq and Jordan.
In recent months, Syrian government forces have expanded their control over previously Kurdish-held territories in northeast Syria, following clashes with the SDF. A ceasefire agreement was subsequently established between the parties.
As Syrian forces advance, the US military has been transferring ISIL detainees from facilities previously managed by the SDF in northeastern Syria. These facilities are now under Syrian government control.
The size of the US military presence in Syria has varied over time. As of July 2025, the Pentagon reported approximately 1,500 American soldiers in Syria. Currently, the deployment stands at 900 soldiers. Recent observations indicate a reduction in US military presence at installations in the al-Shaddadi area in northeastern Hasakah province.
In response to recent threats, the US conducted large-scale attacks against ISIL in January, following an ambush in Palmyra that resulted in the deaths of two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.
